GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina-based Lorillard Tobacco Co. is teaming with 33 state attorneys general to combat the illegal sale of cigarettes purchased over the Internet and mailed to consumers.

According to a press release, Lorillard has voluntarily adopted new measures that will place sanctions on any customer who illegally engages in the remote sale of cigarettes over the Internet or by telephone, mail or fax. Those sanctions, effective immediately, include:

• Suspending cigarette shipments to Lorillard’s direct customers determined by the attorneys general to have engaged in illegal remote sales of its products
• Reducing the volume of cigarettes allocated to its direct customers who are determined by the attorneys general to have indirectly engaged in illegal remote sales
• Suspending participation in Lorillard’s promotional and merchandising programs for those retailers who are determined to have engaged in such illegal sales

“Lorillard always has supported compliance with laws dealing with the illegal sale of our products, and has instituted measures to punish those who are determined to be in violation of the law,” said Lorillard Senior Vice President, Legal and External Affairs Ronald S. Milstein, adding, “We believe that these measures will assist our active efforts to combat counterfeit product sales and will help us and our customers to comply with the laws and regulations intended to stop sales to and consumption of our products by youth.”

Lorillard will begin notifying its customers of the new protocols. “We expect to be able to implement these new measures throughout our distribution channels without delay,” added Milstein.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly commented in a press release that the message of combating illegal cigarettes sales to kids by means of the Internet must be consistent across the board. He said that the agreement with Lorillard “is another crucial step in sending that message and helping to protect our children from the dangers of smoking,” as many online cigarette vendors have no system in place to adequately verify the age of its customers.

The Associated Press notes that the agreement applies to the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

In January, Philip Morris reached a similar agreement with 37 state attorneys general.