Inside the Office > Legal Services Division

Tobacco

In 1998, the Attorneys General of 46 states signed the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) with the four largest tobacco companies in the United States: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Lorillard Tobacco Co., Philip Morris USA Inc., and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

The MSA settled lawsuits by the states to recover costs associated with the treatment of smoking-related illnesses. The MSA authorizes other tobacco product manufacturers to participate in the Agreement, and, since November 1998, over forty additional tobacco companies have joined the MSA.

Tobacco Escrow Fund Act & Tobacco Directory

The South Carolina Tobacco Escrow Fund Act (S.C. Code Ann. §11-47-10, et seq.) and the South Carolina Tobacco Escrow Fund Enforcement Act (S.C. Code Ann. §11-48-10, et seq.), require all tobacco product manufacturers to annually certify that they are in compliance with South Carolina law.

The Attorney General publishes the South Carolina Tobacco Directory listing tobacco product manufacturers and tobacco products that are in compliance with the Escrow Fund Act and the Tobacco Escrow Fund Enforcement Act. The Tobacco Directory lists the names of those tobacco product manufacturers that have been certified by the Attorney General as being fully compliant, together with their brands and brand families.

The Tobacco Directory is updated on the 1st and 15th of every month and as necessary to add and remove tobacco product manufacturers and/or brands and brand families. Be advised, it is unlawful to sell, offer, acquire, hold, own, possess, transport, import or cause to be imported, for sale in this State, or to import for personal consumption ANY brand or tobacco product not listed on the Tobacco Directory.

Contact Us

Phone: 803-734-9927
Fax: 803-734-3677
Email: sctobacco@scag.gov
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 11549
Columbia, SC 29211

Additional Resources

Escrow Account Compliance

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