The 2010 Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (“PACT”) Act severely restricted the use of the U.S. Postal Service to deliver cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco.These tobacco products can no longer be delivered via U.S. Mail for consumer purchases, and mail deliveries are generally limited to deliveries between businesses with all applicable licenses for tobacco sales and deliveries for consumer testing.  Pipe tobacco and cigars are not subject to the mailability restrictions.

The Postal Service recently announced that it is expanding options for authorized deliveries.  Deliveries were formerly limited to express mail with hold for pickup service, which represented an additional burden for deliveries between authorized businesses.  The Postal Service is now allowing eligible deliveries to be sent by express mail or priority mail, both with adult signature.  All other PACT Act requirements remain intact.

Tobacco companies may still deliver cigarettes, roll-your-own and smokeless tobacco to consumers, subject to the PACT Act’s other restrictions, via other delivery methods.  However, the major delivery services have all voluntary agreed not to deliver these tobacco products to consumers.

For questions and/or comments, please contact Bryan Haynes, at 804.697.1420 or by email.