Tobacco laws

On Dec. 20, 2019, the federal government amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raised the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product—including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes—to anyone under 21 years-of-age. Additional information can be found at www.fda.gov. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) legislation

The new law will:

• Crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids.
• Ban candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes.
• Require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco products.
• Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, as well as changes in products and research about its health effects.
• Ban terms such as "light" and "low-tar" that mislead consumers into believing that certain cigarettes are safer.
• Strictly regulate all health-related claims about tobacco products to ensure they are scientifically proven and do not discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.
• Empower the FDA authority to require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal or reduction of harmful ingredients.

Click here to learn what a tobacco product violation includes, or to report a violation to the FDA.

Visit the campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Website to view fact sheets and the effective dates of the FDA Law.