- Core requirements for legal purchase of e-cigarettes in New York
Product compliance
FDA-authorized products only: Starting in 2025, all e-cigarettes must pass PMTA (pre-market tobacco product application) review and obtain STN code identification. Currently compliant brands include Vuse, NJOY, Logic and Skoll, which are only allowed to sell tobacco flavored products, and fruit/dessert flavored e-cigarettes are completely prohibited.
Online platform responsibility: The PMTA authorization number and STN code must be prominently marked on the product page, and a link to the FDA official website database must be provided for consumer verification.
Mandatory age verification
Buyers must be at least 21 years old: New York State law requires all online platforms to integrate blockchain or real-time verification systems. Users must upload a government ID (driver’s license/passport) and pass a third-party review (such as IKE Tech) to complete the order.
Logistics secondary verification: The recipient must present an ID card during delivery, otherwise the package will be returned.
- Online platform compliance purchase process
Step 1: Select an authorized sales channel
Brand official website direct purchase: The official website provides a complete PMTA certified product, supports online payment and age verification.
Authorized e-commerce platforms: such as Amazon and Walmart, only list compliant products and avoid independent small websites (which are prone to selling illegal goods).
Step 2: Complete age verification
Registration stage: Upload your ID (front and back photos), and the system will automatically identify your age and authenticity.
Payment stage: You need to bind a credit card with the same information as your ID to prevent minors from borrowing other people’s accounts.
Step 3: Purchase compliant products
Filter conditions: Use the “FDA certification” label function provided by the platform to quickly locate authorized products.
Product details page must be checked:
STN code (e.g. Vuse Solo STN-XXXX-2025)
PMTA authorization date and expiration date
Nicotine concentration classification (e.g. 2.4%, 5%).
Step 4: Delivery and receipt
Special packaging requirements: Use unmarked packages with only “adult receipt” marked on the outside to avoid attracting the attention of minors.
Receipt verification: The courier needs to scan the recipient’s ID and upload it to the platform database to complete the closed-loop verification.
- Risk avoidance and consumer rights protection on online platforms
Avoidance guide
Beware of “invisible violations”: some platforms sell flavored products through code words (such as “fruit flavor” marked as “classic mixed type”), and consumers can reverse query the FDA database through the STN code.
Reject low-price traps: Unauthorized products often induce purchases with “clearance prices” and “limited special offers”. The prices of compliant products are regulated by state governments and fluctuate within a range of less than 10%.
After-sales and rights protection
7-day unconditional return: If you receive a product that is not marked with an STN code or the flavor does not match, you can ask the platform to return it for free and report it to the FDA official website.