Tennessee Proposed Vape Retail Licensing To Restrict Non Face To Face Sales

The Tennessee State Legislature has proposed the S.B. 2086 (Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act) bill, which aims to require retailers selling tobacco and vape products in the state to obtain a new “tobacco product retail license”, and to require tobacco products to be sold at licensed stores in person.

Key points for glance
• Country/Region: Tennessee, USA
• Bill: S.B. 2086 (Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act)
• Core change: Retail of tobacco and vapes requires application for a ‘Tobacco Product Retail License’
• Enforcement authority: May conduct compliance spot checks on minors, confiscate prohibited items, and establish a database of licensed retailers
• Penalty: Starting from a civil fine of $500; Repeated offenders can be fined up to $20000 and may have their license suspended
• Restrictions on transaction methods: It is proposed to stipulate that tobacco products must be traded at licensed stores through “offline counter transactions”, and non face to face sales/deliveries are prohibited

According to Halfwheel, the newly submitted S.B. 2086 bill (also known as the Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act) in the Tennessee Legislature proposes stricter requirements for tobacco and vape retail, and may prohibit retailers from “shipping” cigars and other products directly to consumers in the state.
The bill intends to include tobacco products within the regulatory scope of the Tennessee Alcohol Commission.
According to the proposal, any retailer wishing to sell tobacco or vape products in Tennessee will need to apply for a new “Tobacco Product Retail License” with a fee of $250 and an annual renewal fee of $250.
At the level of punishment, the penalty for violating relevant rules starts from a civil fine of $500; If there are repeated violations, a maximum fine of $20000 may be imposed and penalties such as license suspension may be faced.
In terms of law enforcement and regulatory tools, the bill intends to authorize the Tennessee Alcohol Commission to conduct underage compliance checks, confiscate prohibited products, and establish and maintain a database of licensed retailers.
The clause that has the greatest impact on consumers is the proposed requirement in the bill that the sale of tobacco products must be completed “in person, at the counter” in licensed stores.

Reference: Tennessee Bill Would Outlaw Internet/Mail Order Cigar Sales | halfwheel

Yesterday we also reported on: Indiana Promotes SB 185 Bill Stores Only Sale Made in USA Vape
With the increasing regulation of vapes in the United States, there will be more compliant vapes sold in the market in the future, and Chinese manufacturers will gradually consider producing compliant products.
However, with a: China Will Cancel The Value-Added Tax Export Rebate For Vape
The impact of this policy cannot be concluded at present. Some people speculate that vapes will return to the state of 10 years ago, and Chinese vape brands will gradually reduce their market share. And local e-cigarette brands will gradually improve. Some people speculate that there won’t be much change, but the selling price will increase. I personally hope to see a more fair and competitive export environment.