winston then became the #2 cigarette, a position it continues to maintain today under ownership of japan tobacco outside of the u.s. while the american version of the brand has faced steadily declining sales, dropping to sixth place by 2005 in the last national survey. the american version of winston is also known for its more recent claim of becoming additive free in the late 1990s. this in turn led to a settlement with the federal trade commission requiring winston to clarify subsequent advertisements that the lack of additives did not result in a safer cigarette.