California Attorney General Issues Guidance On Flavored Tobacco Ban, Including Product List And Penalties For Violations
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California Attorney General issues guidance on flavored tobacco ban, including product list and penalties for violations
The California Attorney General has issued enforcement guidelines for the flavored tobacco ban, including establishing a list of flavorless tobacco products allowed for sale and civil penalties for illegal sales, which will take effect in 2025.
On December 20, the California Attorney General's Office announced that the state's Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued guidance to help businesses across the state follow the new law on the flavored tobacco ban.
Under the new law, starting January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 3218 (AB 3218) will take new enforcement measures based on the 2019 flavored tobacco ban (SB 793), which will be handled by the Attorney General's Office and establish a list of all flavorless tobacco products allowed for sale.
The Attorney General said:
"Flavored tobacco products continue to addict young children across our state. It takes a collective effort, including state and local law enforcement, to address the illegal access to these products. This new law will provide my office with the support it needs to hold those responsible for illegal sales accountable and help sellers who wish to meet their obligations fully comply with the law."
Assembly Bill 3218 would ensure full compliance with the flavored tobacco ban by:
Establishing a publicly available list of all unflavored tobacco products permitted for sale under the state's flavored tobacco restrictions;
Authorizing the Attorney General to impose civil penalties for the sale of products not on the "unflavored list";
Seizing products not on the "unflavored list" to assist state or local law enforcement agencies in their enforcement efforts;
Revising the definition of prohibited "flavored flavors" to specifically include menthol-flavored products, as well as other flavors that are "discernible to the average consumer."
