Liggett Begins Label Listings Of Its Cigarette Ingredients

For the first time, an American tobacco company has begun listing long-secret ingredients contained in its cigarettes directly on the label.

Yesterday, Liggett Group introduced cartons that the company plans to begin using that list the ingredients in its L&M cigarettes, including molasses, phenylacetic acid and the oil of the East Indian mint called patchouli.

The move comes as the state of Massachusetts is trying to compel disclosure of all ingredients by all cigarette makers, an effort that other major tobacco companies are fighting.

Liggett, which broke with the industry by signing the first settlements ever with states and private attorneys suing it, supports the Massachusetts effort as well. "Liggett believes that its adult consumers have a right to full disclosure," Liggett head Bennett LeBow said.

Along with blended tobacco and water, the 26-item L&M list includes high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, natural and artificial licorice flavor, menthol, artificial milk chocolate and natural chocolate flavor, valerian root extract, molasses and vanilla extracts, and cedarwood oil. Less familiar additives include glycerol, propylene glycol, isovaleric acid, hexanoic acid and 3-methylpentanoic acid.

About 600 ingredients are used in American cigarettes, but a Liggett spokesman said the L&M statement was a "quite exhaustive list" of every ingredient used in that brand.

Ingredients in tobacco products have never been proved harmful - especially when compared with the many toxins found in tobacco smoke itself. But activists have long pushed for disclosure of the ingredients, in part because consumers tend to be more wary of risks imposed upon them by others than of the risks they knowingly choose.

State man is charged in illegal arms dealing

WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury indicted a Washington state resident yesterday on charges of illegally shipping military equipment to Slovenia and Macedonia.

Yuri Montgomery, 46, of Olympia, and his company, Fortend USA, were accused of sending tear gas, stun guns, ammunition, handcuffs and other equipment to the two nations in violation of federal law.

Montgomery made the shipments using false documents, hiding the materials inside other equipment or mischaracterizing the items, the indictment said. For example, it said, more than 3,500 handcuffs were listed as "metal accessories."

Toyota recalling 280,000 Camrys: ignition-lock defects

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Toyota is recalling 1997 Toyota Camrys with automatic transmissions because of possible ignition-lock defects in the nation's best-selling car.

The recall covers about 280,000 cars built at the company's plant in Georgetown, Ky.

The action, announced yesterday, was taken after 27 customers reported faults in the locks, which resulted in six minor accidents. No injuries were reported.

Because of the faults, the ignition key can sometimes be removed when the car is not in park. If the car is left in neutral, it could roll; if left in reverse, it could lurch when started.

IRS lists new rules for property seizures

WASHINGTON - After criticism of its collection practices, the IRS announced new interim rules requiring senior-level review before agents seize cars, homes or other property for nonpayment of taxes.

In the past, an IRS group manager could approve most seizures, with a district director approving seizure of a home. Now collection-division chiefs of IRS districts must approve all seizures, and district directors must approve seizure of a home, its contents or "perishable goods," the agency said.