Virginia has received a payment of $116.2 million from the major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Scandinavian Tobacco Group Lane, and ITG Brands, as a result of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said last week.
“This $116 million payment is a reminder of the important role Virginia continues to play in holding tobacco companies accountable and protecting public health, said Miyares. “The Master Settlement Agreement has not only helped offset healthcare costs tied to smoking-related illnesses, but also put in place strong safeguards to reduce youth access to tobacco products.”
Miyares said the attorney general’s office remains committed to enforcing the agreement and ensuring tobacco companies comply with both state and federal law.
The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) was finalized in 1998. It resolved Virginia's lawsuit against the major tobacco companies for violations of consumer protection laws and deceptive marketing practices that caused damages to the state, including increased healthcare costs, the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
Virginia has received approximately $3.5 billion in payments from the MSA.
Under the settlement terms, Virginia and 51 other states and U.S. territories receive annual payments, which help defray the cost of healthcare for smoking-related illnesses.
The MSA also contains “significant public health protections for Virginians, including restrictions against youth marketing of tobacco products, sales of tobacco brand-name merchandise, and tobacco-sponsored entertainment and sporting events,” the attorney general’s office said.
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