A Louisiana state court has put the brakes on the state’s release of its official vaping and e-cigarette registry. However, Alabama’s registry, which has been active since spring 2022, may offer some insight into what products Louisiana will allow on the market.
Passed earlier this year, Louisiana’s new law bans retailers from selling vape products not listed on a state-approved registry, known as the V.A.P.E. Directory. To receive authorization, products need a marketing order from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or must meet one of several narrow exceptions, which favor products that have been on the market since at least 2016.
It’s still unclear which products will be listed in the directory, but Louisiana’s new law mirrors one that’s already in effect in Alabama, which has been keeping a similar list of pre-approved vaping and e-cigarette products, called the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Products Directory, for over a year.
There are 1,602 vaping, e-cigarette, and alternative nicotine products listed in Alabama’s directory, meaning that many products can still be legally sold in the state, according to NOLA.com. On it are several kinds of JUUL products, various flavors of ZYN nicotine Pouches, Vuse, NJOY and BIDI Stick products.
Missing from the list are several massively popular disposable vapes, including Elf Bars, Puff Bars and EscoBars.
To check out the products on Alabama’s list for yourself, go to the Alabama Department of Revenue’s website.
- Click the green box at the top right corner of the homepage that says “MyAlabamaTaxes.”
- Scroll to the “Businesses” section, and click “View or upload a report.”
- Under “Tobacco Reports,” click “ENDS Product Directory.”
- Click the green “Search” button for every product in Alabama’s directory. Or toggle the “Manufacturer” or “Product” buttons and then search for the products you’re interested in.
If the product you search for does not appear on the list, it is not authorized for sale in Alabama and likely will not be authorized for sale in Louisiana, according to sources.