United States Transportation Command

WASHINGTON, D.C. (USTCNS) --- As a result of a preliminary injunction filed by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on April 18, 2000, the U.S. Customs Service today announced that until further notice, previously exported United States manufactured tobacco products, may be brought into the United States in personal-use quantities by travelers.

On January 1, 2000, new statutory provisions at 26 U.S.C. 5754 and 6761(c), and the implementing regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms restricted the importation of previously exported U. S. manufactured tobacco products to include personal use quantities.

Consequently, this restriction included cigarettes purchased in duty-free stores, which are subsequently brought back into the U.S. This new law applied to both international travelers and the trade community.

As a result of the preliminary injunction, until further notice, implementation of these restrictions is rescinded for personal use quantities of previously exported U.S. manufactured tobacco products brought back by travelers.

It should be noted that implementation of the law still continues for previously exported U.S. manufactured tobacco products that arrive in commercial shipments.

For more information contact U.S. Customs Public Affairs at (202) 927-8727.

USTRANSCOM serves as the single point of contact for the U.S. Customs Service, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation and other federal border clearance agencies on behalf of the Department of Defense.

Customs allows travelers to import personal use quantities of previously exported tobacco products

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