Section 16-222 - Shipping, importing, or selling of cigarettes into State.
§ 16-222. Shipping, importing, or selling of cigarettes into State.
(a) Restrictions.- A person may not ship, import, or sell into or within this State any brand of cigarette unless that person:
(1) is the owner of the brand;
(2) is the United States importer for the brand; or
(3) is a designated agent in Maryland of:
(i) the owner of the brand; or
(ii) the United States importer of the brand; and
(4) holds any license required by this subtitle.
(b) Compliance with federal and State requirements.- A person who ships, imports, or sells cigarettes into or within this State:
(1) shall comply with any federal and State requirements concerning the placement of warning labels or other information on the containers or individual packages of cigarettes; and
(2) shall ensure that the containers or individual packages of cigarettes do not contain any information or markings that are false, misleading, or contrary to:
(i) federal trademark or tax laws;
(ii) the trademark law of this State under Title 1, Subtitle 4 of this article; or
(iii) the tax laws of this State under Title 12 of the Tax - General Article.
(c) Violations; penalties.- A person who ships, imports, or sells cigarettes into or within this State in violation of this section is subject to disciplinary action by the Comptroller under § 16-210 of this subtitle and to the penalty specified in § 13-1015 of the Tax - General Article.
[1999, ch. 262.]