Promoting and protecting the health and safety of all Idahoans

Idaho Tobacco Project

It is a criminal offense to sell tobacco products in the State of Idaho without a tobacco permit.  In order to legally sell tobacco products to the public in Idaho, retailers must have an Idaho tobacco permit, issued by the Department of Health and Welfare's Idaho Tobacco Project.Tobacco permits are issued free of charge and must be secured before beginning the sale of tobacco products to the public.  All tobacco permits expire on December 31 of each calendar year and must be renewed annually.A tobacco product is any substance that contains tobacco including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, smoking tobacco, tobacco papers and smokeless tobacco.

Federal Tobacco 21 and Unauthorized Flavored e-Cigarette Products

What is the new Tobacco 21 Law and how does this impact retail sales of tobacco products? A new law is now in place in the United States that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to people under the age of 21. According to the FDA, it is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product- including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes- to anyone under 21. Increasing the purchasing age to 21 will help prevent youths from ever starting to smoke and to reduce deaths, disease, and health costs related to tobacco use. For more information refer to the official statement on the FDA’s website. 

What is the FDA enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children? On January 2, 2020, the FDA issued a policy prioritizing enforcement against certain unauthorized flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to kids, including fruit and mint flavors. Under this policy, companies that do not cease manufacture, distribution and sale of unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes (other than tobacco or menthol) risk FDA enforcement actions. This measure is in response to the rise in youth vaping and the vaping-related lung injury epidemic that has hospitalized over 2,500 people and led to over 50 deaths. For more information please refer to the official press release from the FDA.

How do I obtain a tobacco permit?


