On Friday, June 4, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Final Rule to implement the provisions of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act prohibiting the mailing of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco in the continental U.S., the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) reported.

Once the Final Rule goes into effect on June 29, any of the aforementioned tobacco products deposited into the mail will be subject to seizure and forfeiture. Plus, the sender of the tobacco products would be subject to criminal fines, imprisonment and civil penalties.

Limited exceptions to the rule exist to allow packages of these tobacco products to be mailed within the States of Alaska and Hawaii and for mailing of these items between tobacco industry businesses.

Pipe tobacco and cigars are not regulated by the PACT Act and can continue to be mailed.