As of Tuesday, convenience-store retailers could remove corrective statement signage from their stores. The signs had been required since Oct. 1, 2023, in retail stores that had manufacturer cigarette promotional contract programs in place.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a consent order that required tobacco companies to post tobacco-related messaging at retail locations, including convenience stores. The order required tobacco companies to supply approved signs to stores that sell their products and those stores to post the signs for 21 months. The 21-month implementation period started Oct. 1, 2023, and ran through June 30.
The placement of corrective statement signs in retail stores was due to a lawsuit settlement agreement reached between the federal government and several tobacco manufacturers, including Altria Group, Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., and ITG Brands LLC.
Thomas Briant, legal representative for the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), said the signs do not need to be retained by retailers but can be discarded.
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