Flavored Tobacco Sales in California: Key Updates for Retailers

What Trinity County Retailers Need to Know

California law prohibits the sale of most flavored tobacco products. Effective January 1, 2025, new state laws further strengthen these restrictions and clarify which tobacco products may be legally sold in California.

Under state law, any covered tobacco product that does not appear on the California Attorney General’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) is considered a flavored tobacco product and is prohibited for sale. This applies to retailers, including online and delivery sellers, as well as wholesalers and distributors.

🔗 View the Unflavored Tobacco List: https://utl.doj.ca.gov/

Recent Updates to California Law

Recent legislation—Assembly Bill (AB) 3218 and Senate Bill (SB) 1230—builds on existing flavored tobacco laws by:

• Requiring the creation of the Unflavored Tobacco List

• Prohibiting online and delivery sales of illegal flavored tobacco products

• Allowing state and local agencies to seize illegal flavored tobacco products during inspections

• Expanding definitions of “characterizing flavor” and “nicotine”

• Increasing penalties for noncompliant retailers

• Increasing penalties for selling tobacco products to individuals under age 21

These updates strengthen enforcement of California’s flavored tobacco restrictions and increase accountability across the tobacco retail supply chain.

Products Covered by the Law

The sale of flavored tobacco products—including flavored vapes and e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars and cigarillos, flavored smokeless tobacco, blunt wraps, roll-your-own tobacco, flavor enhancers, and products containing synthetic nicotine or nicotine analogs—is prohibited unless the product appears on the UTL.

Certain products, such as premium cigars, loose-leaf pipe tobacco, and flavored shisha/hookah tobacco sold in age-restricted (21+) facilities, are exempt under specific conditions.

Enforcement and Penalties

Illegal flavored tobacco products may be seized by the California Attorney General, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and other enforcing agencies. Civil penalties may include product seizure, license suspension or revocation, and increased fines for underage sales.

Learn More and Get Support

For full details on California’s flavored tobacco laws, including definitions, exemptions, and penalty tables, visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website:

🔗 California Flavored Tobacco Law – CDPH https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/Pages/CAFlavorTobaccoLaw.aspx

Locally, Human Response Network’s Tobacco Free Trinity Program provides education, technical assistance, and resources to help tobacco retailers in Trinity County understand and comply with state and local tobacco laws.

Retailers with questions or who would like support are encouraged to contact Human Response Network for assistance.