A new Pennsylvania law now requires nicotine vape products to be on a state-approved list before they can be sold, with penalties for noncompliance.
PITTSBURGH —
Smoke shops across Pennsylvania are closing as Act 57, a new state law requiring nicotine vape products to be on a state-approved list, went into effect at midnight.
Cool Vapes, a vape shop with multiple locations, announced on social media that the business will close its doors, citing the new regulations as the reason.
Under Act 57, manufacturers must submit initial certifications to have their products approved for sale. If a product is not on the approved list, stores can no longer legally sell it. Selling unapproved items can result in fines, product seizures, and civil penalties.
The penalties for selling unapproved products are significant. A first violation results in a $500 penalty per product. A second violation within 12 months leads to a penalty ranging from $750 to $1,000 per product per day, along with a 14-day license suspension. A third violation within the same period results in a penalty of $1,000 to $1,500 per product per day and license revocation.
Attorney General Dave Sunday expressed sympathy for those affected by the law but emphasized his duty to enforce it.
“My heart goes out to anyone that loses a job or their business. I mean, that’s obviously something that is … that is terrible. That no one would ever want to see. At the same time, the attorney general, my job is to enforce the law. And so, you know, that’s something that I take an oath to do,” Sunday said.
Annual certifications for listed e-cigarettes are due by April 21 starting in 2027, but no earlier than Feb. 21 each year.
The new law is expected to have a significant impact on smoke shops like Cool Vapes, which rely on selling popular vape products that are not yet approved.