§ 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) (i) is the owner of the brand;

      (ii) is the United States importer for the brand; or

      (iii) is a designated agent in Maryland of:

         1. the owner of the brand; or

         2. the United States importer of the brand; and

   (2) 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.

HISTORY: 1999, ch. 262; 2013, ch. 43.