Subdivision 1. Authorization. Any wholesaler may advertise, offer to sell or sell cigarettes at a price made in good faith to meet the price of a competitor who is selling the same article at the cost to the competing wholesaler as defined by sections 325D.30 to 325D.42. Any retailer may offer to sell or sell cigarettes at a price made in good faith to meet the price of a competitor who is selling at the cost to the said competing retailer as defined in sections 325D.30 to 325D.42. The price of cigarettes offered for sale, or sold under the exceptions specified in section 325D.36 shall not be considered the price of a competitor and shall not be used as a basis for establishing prices below cost, nor shall the price established at a bankrupt or forced sale be considered the price of a competitor within the purview of this section.
Subd. 2. Competitor's cost. In the absence of proof of the actual cost to a competing wholesaler or to a competing retailer, as the case may be, such cost shall be the lowest cost to wholesalers or the lowest cost to retailers, as the case may be, within the same trading area as determined by a cost survey made pursuant to section 325D.38, subdivision 2.
Subd. 3. Notification to commissioner. Before selling cigarettes at a price set in good faith to meet competition, a wholesaler shall notify the commissioner in writing that it intends to meet a competitor's legal price. A wholesaler filing the notice shall be allowed to meet the competitor's price unless within seven days of receipt of the notice, the commissioner informs the wholesaler that the competitor's price is an illegal price.
1967 c 600 s 8; 1989 c 277 art 1 s 28; 1993 c 375 art 17 s 14
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 324 - 341 — Trade Regulations, Consumer Protection
Chapter 325D — Restraint Of Trade
Section 325D.01 — Definitions.
Section 325D.02 — Application.
Section 325D.03 — Discrimination Unlawful.
Section 325D.04 — Selling Below Cost Forbidden.
Section 325D.05 — Bankrupt Sales Not To Be Considered In Fixing Costs.
Section 325D.06 — Inapplicable Sales.
Section 325D.07 — Remedies Cumulative.
Section 325D.071 — Violations; Penalties.
Section 325D.072 — Injunctive Relief.
Section 325D.09 — Unlawful Trade Practices.
Section 325D.10 — Definitions.
Section 325D.11 — Certain Unlawful Trade Practices.
Section 325D.12 — Retailers Not To Misrepresent Nature Of Business.
Section 325D.13 — Quality, Misrepresented.
Section 325D.14 — Employer Not To Dispose Of Other Than Own Products.
Section 325D.15 — Violations; Restraining Orders.
Section 325D.16 — Application.
Section 325D.30 — Minnesota Unfair Cigarette Sales Act; Findings And Policy.
Section 325D.32 — Definitions.
Section 325D.33 — Sales At Less Than Cost; Penalty.
Section 325D.34 — Combination Sales.
Section 325D.35 — Sales By A Wholesaler To A Wholesaler.
Section 325D.36 — Sales Exceptions.
Section 325D.37 — Transactions Permitted To Meet Lawful Competition.
Section 325D.371 — Publication Of Cigarette Prices.
Section 325D.38 — Admissible Evidence.
Section 325D.39 — Sales Outside Ordinary Channels Of Business; Effect.
Section 325D.405 — Investigations.
Section 325D.415 — Cigarette Distributor Fees.
Section 325D.42 — Partial Unconstitutionality.
Section 325D.421 — Unlawful Cigarette Trade Practices.
Section 325D.43 — Definitions.
Section 325D.44 — Deceptive Trade Practices.
Section 325D.46 — Application.
Section 325D.47 — Uniformity Of Application And Construction.
Section 325D.50 — Definitions.
Section 325D.51 — Unreasonable Restraint Of Trade Or Commerce.
Section 325D.52 — Establishment, Maintenance, Or Use Of Monopoly Power.
Section 325D.53 — Prohibited Contracts, Combinations, And Conspiracies.
Section 325D.54 — Scope Of Act.
Section 325D.56 — Penalties For Violation.
Section 325D.58 — Injunctive Relief.
Section 325D.59 — Authority Of The Attorney General.
Section 325D.60 — Forfeiture Of Charter Rights And Privilege To Do Business.
Section 325D.62 — Judgment In Favor Of State As Prima Facie Evidence.
Section 325D.63 — Notification Of Civil Action.
Section 325D.64 — Statute Of Limitations.
Section 325D.66 — Action Not Barred As Affecting Or Involving Interstate Or Foreign Commerce.
Section 325D.68 — Monopolization Of Food Products.
Section 325D.71 — Unlawful Gasoline Sales.
Section 325D.72 — Bad Faith Assertions Of Patent Infringement.