Pennsylvania vape & tobacco compliance, made clear.
What changes on October 19 — and everything else a store has to get right. Plain language, free from Adyah Wholesale.
From October 19, a nicotine vape that is not on the Attorney General's ENDS directory is contraband — seized, destroyed at your cost, and fined per product. The last day to sell unlisted stock is October 18.
Three dates every store needs to know.
Directory enforcement begins
The AG first posted the ENDS directory on June 18, 2026 (the legal deadline was June 20). Unlisted stock could be sold through October 18, 2026. From October 19, unlisted nicotine e-cigarettes are contraband: seized and destroyed, and you pay the costs of seizure, transport, storage and destruction.
Act 57 of 2025; 72 P.S. § 206-ILicensed wholesalers only
A Pennsylvania retailer may buy tobacco products only from a PA-licensed wholesaler. Your invoices are the proof — keep them.
Act 57 of 2025Two licences, not one
A Cigarette Dealer licence and a Tobacco Products (OTP) licence from the Department of Revenue — $25 per location, per year, each. Both expire on the last day of February — renew on myPATH by January 15. Fees are not prorated.
PA Department of RevenueWhat you must do.
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Hold both Revenue licences
Cigarette Dealer and Tobacco Products (OTP), for every location, renewed on myPATH by January 15 each year (they expire at the end of February).
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Check every nicotine vape SKU against the directory
Before October 19 and before every reorder. A listed brand does not mean every style is listed — check a product.
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Clear unlisted stock before October 19
Sell-through ends October 18, 2026. Anything unlisted after that can be seized. Run your SKU list.
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Buy only from PA-licensed wholesalers
In force since February 20, 2026. Keep every invoice at the store.
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Write your store policy down
It is your only legal defence for an underage sale. Generate yours in two minutes.
Your ticks stay on this device. Nothing is sent to us.
Age & ID.
- Pennsylvania law does not list acceptable IDs — your written policy must.
- The military exception covers active-duty and reserve members of the US armed forces and honourably discharged veterans, aged 18 or over (18 Pa.C.S. § 6305). The law does not name a required ID — your written policy should say what proof you accept.
- No minimum clerk age in the tobacco law and no on-site supervisor rule — general child-labour law still applies.
The written policy is what protects the store.
If a clerk sells to someone under 21, the store has a defence only if it can show all six of these (18 Pa.C.S. § 6305).
- 01
A written carding policy
Card anyone who appears 25 or younger; list the acceptable ID types, what to inspect on them, that an ID missing any of it is not valid, and that questions go to a manager.
- 02
An established training programme
Covering federal and state law, for every person who sells.
- 03
Documented training
Proof every employee was informed of and understands the written policy. Signed, dated records are the safest way to show it.
- 04
Age-verification training
Every employee who sells is trained to check that a buyer is at least 21 — or at least 18 for military members and honourably discharged veterans.
- 05
Written disciplinary sanctions
What happens to an employee who does not card or sells to a minor — the law expects counselling and suspension for not checking ID, and dismissal for repeat improper sales.
- 06
A conspicuous posted notice
That selling to a minor is illegal, buying under 21 is illegal, and the penalties.
Penalties.
Selling a nicotine vape that is not on the ENDS directory
72 P.S. § 206-I (Act 57 of 2025)Underage sale — the business
18 Pa.C.S. § 6305Underage sale — the clerk, personally
18 Pa.C.S. § 6305Cigarette purchase records not kept
61 Pa. Code § 71.10Compliance checks.
- Who runs them
- PA Department of Health — also on behalf of the FDA
- The decoy
- State checks: at least 14, trained, with parental consent, and may not use the product during the check. FDA checks use buyers aged 16–20.
- How often
- State checks: at most once per location every 30 days. FDA inspections and police are not limited by this.
- If you pass
- You receive written notice
- Your own checks
- Allowed — secret shoppers prove your training works
- Records
- Keep cigarette purchase records 4 years at the licensed location
Common questions, answered plainly.
Can't find yours? Your Adyah rep can help — their details are at the foot of this page.
The products
The brand is on the directory. Can I sell all its flavours?
Does this cover vapes without nicotine?
Your responsibility
My wholesaler sold it to me. Am I still responsible?
How do I hear when products are added or removed?
Local rules.
Some cities add their own permit, zoning and signage rules on top of state law. Philadelphia requires its own Tobacco Retailer Permit, and Pittsburgh limits where new vape and smoke shops can open. See local rules.
Official sources.
Get your shelf ready before October 19.
Check every nicotine vape against the Attorney General's ENDS directory. Anything unlisted has to be sold by October 18 or pulled.