FedEx Agrees to STOP shipping tobacco

[plexiprs]

[SIZE=2]FedEx makes deal with attorneys general to curb tobacco shipments[/SIZE]

February 8, 2006, 10:30 AM EST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) _ FedEx Corp. said it has reached an agreement with attorneys general in several states to further curb interstate shipments of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The Memphis-based company, including its cargo airline FedEx Express and FedEx Ground, already prohibits tobacco sellers from shipping products to customers in the U.S., but under the new deal announced Tuesday FedEx agreed to take action against companies that repeatedly violate the policy.

That could include barring the violators from using FedEx services, according to the attorneys general.

The effort has been led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has mounted a campaign to stop Internet sales of tobacco products that he says has cut into local and state tax revenues and makes it easier for them to get in the hands of minors.

Spitzer's office said Tuesday that FedEx joins DHL, a unit of German postal service Deutsche Post AG, and Atlanta-based UPS Inc. in the agreement not to ship tobacco to U.S. customers.

Last month Philip Morris USA, the nation's biggest tobacco company voluntarily agreed to end shipments of any of its products to customers, Indian tribes and enterprises that 37 states deem illegal.

Last March major credit card companies agreed to stop processing payments from Internet retailers.

========================

Anyone here seen an impact from this? I got a CBid shipment 2 weeks ago on DHL and yet to have a CC problem. Why can't our elected officials butt out of personal lives when we are harming no one and merely seeking some quality relaxation time??

[PaulMac]

Its all about the Benjamins...tax revenue drives this kind of stuff, and not "keeping it out of the hands of children" as they constantly raise a hue and cry about. Requiring signatures keeps it out of the hands of children, banning shipments protects tax revenue. THATS why they won't stay out of it.

[thebiglebowski]

Originally Posted by PaulMac

Its all about the Benjamins...tax revenue drives this kind of stuff, and not "keeping it out of the hands of children" as they constantly raise a hue and cry about. Requiring signatures keeps it out of the hands of children, banning shipments protects tax revenue. THATS why they won't stay out of it.

is this regarding interstate-related shipping or international? or both?

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by PaulMac

Its all about the Benjamins...tax revenue drives this kind of stuff, and not "keeping it out of the hands of children" as they constantly raise a hue and cry about.

I understand that from the perspective of the states, but what I don't get is why the CC and shipping companies are so quick to voluntarily comply? There hasn't been any legislation yet to force them to comply.

[Puro.Esq.]

The effort has been led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has mounted a campaign to stop Internet sales of tobacco products that he says has cut into local and state tax revenues and makes it easier for them to get in the hands of minors.

Oh I thougt it was only to curb smoking and keep children safe . . . now I see the PRIMARY reason is to generate tax revenue for the states. What a bunch of They talk a good game about stopping bad habits and keeping minors from starting but I am sure they would all crap their pants if suddenly all smoking stopped and their pockets were not lined with all of our money.

More and more of our freedoms and being given away and usurped by our government "leaders". I am going to light one up tonight and the California Tobacco Taxes be damned!

END

[plexiprs]

FedEx U.S. Terms and Conditions

Tobacco Products

Tobacco products will be accepted only when shipped from a licensed dealer or distributor to another licensed dealer or distributor. Packaging must be approved by FedEx Packaging Design and Development prior to shipping. The shipper is solely responsible for compliance with any applicable regulations, which may vary from state to state.

FedEx Shipments to Europe

Prohibited articles are those listed in the FedEx Freight FXF 100 Rules Tariff. For shipments consigned to Europe, there are additional prohibited items. These include the following:

Ammunition, Metal scrap, Animal feed, Military Base Shipments, Animals, animal products or plants, Military Equipment, Exhibition material (convention deliveries), Motorized vehicles and cycles, Explosives, Perishables, Foodstuffs, Personal effects, Guns and firearms, Plastic scrap, Hazardous classes of 1 and 7, Residential deliveries, Hay/hay cubes, Shipments requiring credit card invoicing, Household goods/personal effects, Taxidermy items, Liquor/tobacco, Waste paper, Metals (precious), gems, Weapons or parts thereof.

UPS Shipping Terms and Conditions

General Restrictions and Prohibitions

Shipper shall not tender to UPS any Tobacco Product Shipment that does not conform to the following general restrictions and prohibitions:

UPS does not provide service for shipments of cigarettes to consumers. * For UPS's current terms, conditions, restrictions and prohibitions regarding Tobacco Product Shipments, and the version of Addendum A in effect at the time of shipping, see www.ups.com/tobacco at the time of shipping. UPS only accepts shipments of cigarettes for delivery to recipients who are licensed or otherwise authorized by applicable federal, state, provincial, or local law or regulation to receive deliveries of cigarettes.


State-Specific Restrictions and Prohibitions

Shipper shall not tender to UPS any Tobacco Product Shipment that does not conform to the following state-specific restrictions and prohibitions:

Maine
Tobacco products (including cigarettes and any form of tobacco and any material or device used in the smoking, chewing or other form of tobacco consumption, including cigarette papers and pipes).

UPS only accepts shipments of tobacco products to recipients in the State of Maine who are licensed tobacco distributors or tobacco retailers. Lists of licensees are available from John Archard, Tobacco Enforcement Coordinator, Office of the Attorney General, 6 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0006, telephone 207-626-8837.


Montana
Tobacco products (including cigarettes and all products containing tobacco that are intended for human consumption or use).

UPS only accepts shipments of tobacco products to recipients in the State of Montana who are licensed tobacco wholesalers or tobacco retailers. Lists of licensees will be posted at the Montana Department of Revenue website.

[PaulMac]

Originally Posted by Jeff

I understand that from the perspective of the states, but what I don't get is why the CC and shipping companies are so quick to voluntarily comply? There hasn't been any legislation yet to force them to comply.

Because I assume Fed-Ex or who-ever doesn't want Spitzer on the evening news talking about how Fed-Ex refuses to help voluntarily in the effort to keep tobacco out of our childrens hands...which is absolute as far as the reason why, but the truth seldom matters when you have airtime does it.

[ConMan]

I work in the Insurance industry. We know all too well about Mr. Spitzer. Once he digs his hands into something, he definitely changes it

[PaulMac]

Prohibited articles are those listed in the FedEx Freight FXF 100 Rules Tariff. For shipments consigned to Europe, there are additional prohibited items. These include the following:

Ammunition, Metal scrap, Animal feed, Military Base Shipments, Animals, animal products or plants, Military Equipment, Exhibition material (convention deliveries), Motorized vehicles and cycles, Explosives, Perishables, Foodstuffs, Personal effects, Guns and firearms, Plastic scrap, Hazardous classes of 1 and 7, Residential deliveries, Hay/hay cubes, Shipments requiring credit card invoicing, Household goods/personal effects, Taxidermy items, Liquor/tobacco, Waste paper, Metals (precious), gems, Weapons or parts thereof.


Seeing as these items are prohibited...maybe we should start our own shipping company...
Call it Tipples, Tanks, and Tobacco!
Now I need to find some investors and a few trucks lol

[colgate]

Originally Posted by Puro.Esq.

Oh I thougt it was only to curb smoking and keep children safe . . . now I see the PRIMARY reason is to generate tax revenue for the states. What a bunch of They talk a good game about stopping bad habits and keeping minors from starting but I am sure they would all crap their pants if suddenly all smoking stopped and their pockets were not lined with all of our money.

More and more of our freedoms and being given away and usurped by our government "leaders". I am going to light one up tonight and the California Tobacco Taxes be damned!

END

Kid lobbyists aren't in the same league with Altria. this is all about protecting markets and collecting taxes.

[canadasmokes]

Well...What can brown do for you?

[Jeff]

While doing my taxes this year on TurboTax, one of the last questions for my Pennsylvania state tax was if I needed to pay any tax on items bought outside of the state. These would be things such as cigars purchased from JR who don't collect the taxes.

I don't remember seeing this on last years tax forms, so I imagine PA added it this year. Makes me think it won't be long now before every online purchase is taxed.

[par]

and USPS is next courtesy of a bill introduced by your favourite free trade public servant, rep. John M. McHugh (R-NY). He is proposing legislation to amend title 39 so that USPS cannot legally ship tobacco.

Isn't it great to know that the politicians across the aisle have joined forces to protect the citizens of the union?

One of the things i don't quite understand is how the politicians can argue that this is about protecting children when both UPS and fedex has programs in place for age verification for their wine shipping business?

[palm55]

[QUOTE=PaulMac]Prohibited articles are those listed in the FedEx Freight FXF 100 Rules Tariff. For shipments consigned to Europe, there are additional prohibited items. These include the following:

Ammunition, Metal scrap, Animal feed, Military Base Shipments, Animals, animal products or plants, Military Equipment, Exhibition material (convention deliveries), Motorized vehicles and cycles, Explosives, Perishables, Foodstuffs, Personal effects, Guns and firearms, Plastic scrap, Hazardous classes of 1 and 7, Residential deliveries, Hay/hay cubes, Shipments requiring credit card invoicing, Household goods/personal effects, Taxidermy items, Liquor/tobacco, Waste paper, Metals (precious), gems, Weapons or parts thereof.


So... Let me get this straight... Pot, crack and smack are still good to go???

[12stones]

This is just falling in line with the government's attempts to put the control of tobacco under the FDA so they may put "restrictions on the sale and distribution of a tobacco product, including restrictions on the access to, and the advertising and promotion of, the tobacco product, if the Secretary determines that such regulation would be appropriate for the protection of the public health."

(Not that I'm saying that UPS, FedEx are in league with the gov't).

There are 2 bills in Congress currently being reviewed that will give the FDA control over the regulation of tobacco products. The main focus is on cigarettes but the "tobacco product" umbrella will include cigars as well.

The bills are (Senate) S.666 and (House) H.R.1376.

I'm sad to say that a Texas senator is a sponsor of the Senate bill.

EDIT: The House also has legislation working to control the mailing of tobacco so FedEx is just jumping the gun. House bill H.R. 2813 is currently being reviewed "to amend title 39, United States Code, to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable."