§ 149.200 RSMo — Illegal activities related to cigarettes and cigarette labeling — penalty

1. It is unlawful for any person to:

(1) Sell or distribute in this state, to acquire, hold, own, possess or transport for sale or distribution in this state, or to import, or cause to be imported into this state for sale or distribution in this state, any cigarettes that do not comply with all requirements imposed by or pursuant to federal law and implementing regulations, including but not limited to the filing of ingredients lists pursuant to Section 7 of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1335a); the permanent imprinting on the primary packaging of the precise package warning labels in the precise format specified in Section 4 of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1333); the rotation of label statements pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1335(c)); restrictions on the importation, transfer and sale of previously exported tobacco products pursuant to Section 9302 of Public Law 105-33, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, as amended; requirements of Title IV of Public Law 106-476, the Imported Cigarette Compliance Act of 2000; or

(2) Alter the package of any cigarettes, prior to sale or distribution to the ultimate consumer, so as to remove, conceal or obscure:

(a) Any statement, label, stamp, sticker or notice indicating that the manufacturer did not intend the cigarettes to be sold, distributed or used in the United States, including but not limited to labels stating "For Export Only", "U.S. Tax Exempt", "For Use Outside U.S.", or similar wording; or

(b) Any health warning that is not the precise warning statement in the precise format specified in Section 4 of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1333).

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to affix any tax stamp or meter impression required pursuant to this chapter to the package of any cigarettes that does not comply with the requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section or that is altered in violation of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section.

3. This section shall not apply to cigarettes allowed to be imported or brought into the United States for personal use, or to cigarettes sold or intended to be sold as duty-free merchandise by a duty-free sales enterprise in accordance with the provisions of 19 U.S.C. Section 1555(b) and any implementing regulations; provided, however, that sections 149.200 to 149.215 shall apply to any such cigarettes that are brought back into the customs territory for resale within the customs territory.

4. Any person who violates this section, whether acting knowingly or recklessly, is guilty of a class E felony.

5. As used in this section, "package" means a pack, box, carton or container of any kind in which cigarettes are offered for sale, sold or otherwise distributed to consumers.