HARRISBURG, PA — Thousands of vape retailers in Pennsylvania will soon be restricted to selling only state-approved products under a new law requiring manufacturers to be certified before their items can be sold.
What This Means for You
- Vape shops can only sell products from state-certified manufacturers
- A public list of approved products will be available by June 20, 2026
- Unapproved products can be seized and trigger penalties
Attorney General Dave Sunday said materials are now available to help manufacturers and vendors comply with Act 57 of 2025, which is now in effect.
How the Law Works
The law requires all manufacturers of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine to be certified by the Attorney General before their products can be sold in Pennsylvania.
The Attorney General’s Office will publish an online directory listing approved manufacturers and products, including brand names, product types, and flavors. Only items included in that directory can be legally sold.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems, include devices such as vape pens, cartridges, pods, and disposables that deliver nicotine through vapor.
Federal Review Requirement
To qualify for listing, products must either have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or be under federal review as products that were already on the market before August 8, 2016, and submitted for review by September 9, 2020.
The law also applies to some non-nicotine products if they share branding with nicotine products, requiring manufacturers to certify that those items do not contain nicotine and provide lab testing to confirm it.
Impact on Retailers
Pennsylvania has approximately 11,090 licensed sellers of “Other Tobacco Products,” a category that includes vapes and e-cigarettes.
Retailers will be required to verify that all products they carry appear on the state’s approved list once it is published.
Enforcement and Penalties
The law gives the Attorney General’s Office authority to enforce compliance, including seizing products that are not listed and imposing financial penalties on violators.
“The Legislature has provided my office with a variety of tools, including significant penalties, the ability to seize unlisted products, and cost recovery from illegal actors,” Sunday said.
How to Comply
Manufacturers must submit certification forms, supporting documentation, and non-refundable fees to be included in the directory.
Forms, instructions, and guidance are available at:
www.attorneygeneral.gov/ends/
Officials said certifications will only be processed once payment is received and approved.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.