GREENSBORO, N.C., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lorillard Tobacco Company
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO)) said that it is
disappointed with today's vote by the House of Representatives to approve a
bill that would require the FDA to regulate tobacco. The Company also said
that while it fully supports reasonable federal regulation of the tobacco
industry, that the FDA is already overburdened and is the wrong agency to
carry out this enormous task.

    The Company also said that it welcomes the provision in this bill that
calls for a scientific review of menthol in cigarettes. While the
scientific studies to date do not support a conclusion that menthol
cigarettes are more hazardous or addictive than non-menthol cigarettes, the
Energy and Commerce Committee noted the importance of ensuring the FDA has
the "scientific evidence necessary to make the best decision to protect the
public health" for all cigarette additives and constituents.

    Lorillard agrees that a proper scientific review based on "sound
information and scientific evidence and data," as the Energy and Commerce
Committee report states, with involvement by all interested parties as
required under federal rulemaking procedures, will be informative in
addressing the questions that are being raised about menthol cigarettes.

    The Company said the current challenges facing FDA are well documented.
It believes that the addition of a new multi-billion dollar a year industry
for the FDA to oversee, when the agency is already struggling to fulfill
its core mission, is misguided. The Company said that it is understandable
why 82 percent of those surveyed in a February 2008 Zogby poll say they are
concerned that regulating tobacco would interfere with FDA's principle
mission to oversee pharmaceutical drugs and the nation's food supply.

    In October 2007, FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, in written
testimony before the House Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health,
made it clear that the FDA could play a role in the regulation of tobacco,
but that the FDA should not be the responsible agency. Last week, HHS
Secretary Michael Leavitt echoed those concerns when he wrote, "The
regulatory obligations created by [the FDA] bill would be a significant
added responsibility for the Food and Drug Administration and one that is
inconsistent with FDA's mission of ensuring food safety and the safety and
effectiveness of drugs, biologics, and medical devices."

    The Company noted that some advocates have characterized this
legislation as an important tool to reduce youth smoking. Lorillard firmly
believes that cigarette smoking is an adult choice and that children should
not smoke. According to government surveys, youth smoking rates are at the
lowest levels since the government began studying youth smoking rates more
than 30 years ago. Furthermore, for the second consecutive year, all 50
states are in compliance with federal legislation aimed at decreasing youth
access to tobacco with the overall rate of compliance at its highest level.
The Company added that while more needs to be done to reduce the rate of
youth smoking, this specific bill is, in fact, principally focused on adult
smokers.

    The Company believes the FDA is overburdened and the wrong agency to
regulate tobacco -- and looks to the Senate for its leadership to find an
effective regulatory solution.

    About Lorillard, Inc.

    Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO), the parent company of Lorillard Tobacco
Company, is the third largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United
States. Lorillard was founded in 1760, and is the oldest continuously
operating tobacco company in the U.S. Newport(R), Lorillard's flagship
brand, is a menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand and the top selling
menthol and second largest selling cigarette in the U.S. In addition to
Newport, the Lorillard product line has five additional brand families
marketed under the Kent(R), True(R), Maverick(R), Old Gold(R) and Max(R)
brand names. These six brands include 44 different product offerings which
vary in price, taste, flavor, length and packaging. Lorillard's
manufactures all of its products at its Greensboro, North Carolina facility
and maintains its headquarters there.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements made in this press release are "forward-looking"
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, or the Reform Act. Forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future
results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words
"expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "will be",
"will continue", "will likely result", and similar expressions. In
addition, any statement that may be provided by management concerning
future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth
rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by
Lorillard, Inc. are also forward-looking statements as defined by the
Reform Act.

    Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and
projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Lorillard,
Inc., that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated or projected. Information describing factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements is available in Lorillard, Inc.'s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. These filings are available from the SEC over the
Internet or in hard copy, and are, in some cases, available from Lorillard,
Inc. as well. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the time they are
made, and Lorillard, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to update these statements to reflect any change in expectations or beliefs
or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
forward-looking statement is based.



     Contact:
     Michael W. Robinson
     202-973-1340
     mrobinson@levick.com

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