South Carolina § 23-51-50 - Marking to indicate compliance.

§ 23-51-50. Marking to indicate compliance.

(A) Cigarettes that are certified by a manufacturer in accordance with Section 23-51-40 must be marked to indicate compliance with the requirements of Section 23-51-30. The marking must be in eight point type or larger and consist of:

(1) modification of the product UPC Code to include a visible mark printed at or around the area of the UPC Code. The mark may consist of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, embossed, or printed in conjunction with the UPC; or

(2) any visible combination of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, or embossed upon the cigarette package or cellophane wrap; or

(3) printed, stamped, engraved, or embossed text that indicates that the cigarettes meet the standards of this chapter.

(B) A manufacturer shall use only one marking, and shall apply this marking uniformly for all packages including, but not limited to packs, cartons, cases, and brands marketed by that manufacturer.

(C) The State Fire Marshal must be notified as to the marking that is selected.

(D) Before a cigarette is certified, a manufacturer shall present its proposed marking to the State Fire Marshal for approval. Upon receipt of the request, the State Fire Marshal shall approve or disapprove the marking offered, except that the State Fire Marshal shall approve:

(1) any marking in use and approved for sale in accordance with the implementation and substance of the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes in effect on May 1, 2008. If after May 1, 2008, the New York Fire Safety Standards for marking are changed, then the State Fire Marshal shall recommend to the chairpersons of the appropriate standing committees of the General Assembly such proposed legislation as may be necessary to make this chapter consistent, as far as possible, with the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes; or

(2) the letters "FSC", which signify Fire Standards Compliant, appearing in eight point type or larger and permanently printed, stamped, engraved, or embossed on the package at or near the UPC Code. Proposed markings shall be deemed approved if the State Fire Marshal fails to act within ten business days of receiving a request for approval.

(E) No manufacturer shall modify its approved marking unless the modification has been approved by the State Fire Marshal in accordance with this section.

(F) Manufacturers certifying cigarettes in accordance with Section 23-51-40 shall provide a copy of the certifications to all wholesale dealers and agents to which they sell cigarettes, and also shall provide sufficient copies of an illustration of the package marking utilized by the manufacturer pursuant to this section for each retail dealer to which the wholesale dealers or agents sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers and agents shall provide a copy of these package markings received from manufacturers to all retail dealers to which they sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers shall permit the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Revenue, the Attorney General, and their employees to inspect markings of cigarette packaging marked in accordance with this section.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 331, SECTION 1, eff January 1, 2010.