Philip Morris USA reports certain types of cigarette product information to various state and federal agencies.
For example, we annually report nicotine yield numbers and other information to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Texas. We annually report information regarding the presence of designated tobacco substances to the State of Minnesota.
Historically, PM USA submitted to the FTC information regarding certain cigarette design features and cigarette tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide smoke yields determined according to a standardized test method - the Cambridge Filter Method, frequently referred to as "the FTC Method." In addition, in March 1966, the FTC announced that it would permit statements of tar and nicotine yields if such statements were based on the results of a standardized test method - the Cambridge Filter Method. Three years later, the FTC proposed a trade regulation rule requiring the disclosure of tar and nicotine yields in cigarette advertisements. PM USA, along with other cigarette manufacturers, responded by agreeing to disclose average tar and nicotine yields as measured by the Cambridge Filter Method in cigarette advertising - and continued to do so for nearly 40 years. PM USA has also disclosed those yields on this website. On November 26, 2008, however, the FTC rescinded its prior guidance that it would permit statements of tar and nicotine yields, if such statements were based on the results of the Cambridge Filter Method. In support of its decision, the FTC stated that, "there is now a consensus among the public health and scientific communities that the Cambridge Filter Method is sufficiently flawed that statements of tar and nicotine yields as measured by that method are not likely to help consumers make informed decisions." As a result of the FTC's rescission of guidance, PM USA has removed tar and nicotine yields, as measured by the Cambridge Filter Method, from this website and is in the process of removing such numbers from its advertising and other consumer communications. Read the full text of the
FTC's Rescission of Guidance. In addition, public health authorities have concluded that machine test methods are not an accurate way of determining the amount of tar or nicotine a smoker may inhale.
We also annually report cigarette ingredient information for cigarettes sold in the U.S. to the Department of Health and Human Services and for cigarettes sold in Texas to the State of Texas. Some of the information submitted to these agencies on a confidential basis relates to detailed brand recipes which, if disclosed publicly, would compromise our ability to maintain valuable trade secrets for competitive purposes. Therefore, the reports are not posted to this website.
