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 In this section:

                Compliance, Enforcement & Training

Compliance, Enforcement & Training

                        Advisory and Enforcement Actions Against Industry for Selling Tobacco Products to Underage Purchasers
          Advisory and Enforcement Actions Against Industry for Unauthorized Tobacco Products
          Compliance and Enforcement Report
          FDA Tobacco Compliance Webinars
          Report Potential Tobacco Product Violation
          Small Business Assistance for Tobacco Product Industry


                        Tobacco Retailer Warning Letters
          Manufacturing
          Retail Sales of Tobacco Products
          State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Governments Home
          Tobacco Products
          Compliance, Enforcement & Training
          Report Potential Tobacco Product ViolationCompliance, Enforcement & Training Report Potential Tobacco Product Violation
  
  	
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    PrintThe Tobacco Control Act and related regulations give FDA tools to help keep tobacco out of the hands of America’s youth. But you also have an opportunity to play a key role. The public is crucial in helping FDA enforce tobacco regulations to protect America’s youth.

What Is a Potential Tobacco Product Violation?

Young men sitting with basketballPotential tobacco product violations include (but are not limited to):

Sales to underage purchasers
	Flavored cigarette sales
	Illegal marketing and advertising – The Tobacco Control Act gives the FDA the ability to regulate certain marketing and advertising activities by the tobacco industry, including:
	Describing tobacco products as “light,” “mild,” or “low” – or claiming a product is safer or less harmful without an FDA order
		Distributing t-shirts or other promotional or novelty items with brand names of cigarette or smokeless tobacco products
		Sponsoring events using the brand name of a tobacco product
	Distribution of free samples of tobacco products except in limited circumstances
	Placement of cigarette or smokeless tobacco product vending machines in prohibited areas (or providing access to self-service or direct access of tobacco products in prohibited areas)
	Sale of cigarettes in packages of less than 20
	Manufacture or sale of unauthorized tobacco products**Note:**On December 20, 2019, the President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21. FDA will provide additional details on this issue as they become available.


How Can I Report a Potential Tobacco Violation?

If you see what you believe to be a violation of the Tobacco Control Act or other related regulations, you can:

Submit online: **Potential Tobacco Product Violations Reporting - Form FDA 3779**
	Call the Tobacco Call Center using CTP's toll-free number: 1.877.CTP.1373
	Send an email: CTPCompliance@FDA.hhs.gov
	Print and mail:Paper form to**Potential Tobacco Products Violation Report**
	Food and Drug Administration
	Center for Tobacco Products
	Office of Compliance and Enforcement
	Document Control Center
	Building 71, Room G335
	10903 New Hampshire Avenue
	Silver Spring, MD 20993What Happens When I Submit a Potential Violation?

FDA will evaluate any report submitted to determine if the activity is a violation of the Tobacco Control Act or related regulations. Before deciding what follow-up action, if any, is necessary, we will check to see if the product named in the complaint is regulated by FDA. If the product is regulated by a different federal or state agency, or different part of FDA, we will forward the complaint to the applicable entity for review.

FDA does not rely solely on what was submitted to take enforcement action. After reviewing a complaint, our investigation may include:

Performing an inspection of a tobacco product manufacturer, distributor, or importer;
	Conducting a compliance check inspection of a tobacco retailer; or
	Initiating monitoring and surveillance of a tobacco product manufacturer’s or retailer’s website.FDA may determine that there is no evidence of a violation, or we may find evidence of the reported violation or of other potential violations that requires additional surveillance, monitoring, and/or inspections.

Privacy and Anonymity

All reports to FDA remain private to the extent allowed by law as explained in FDA’s Privacy Policy. Reports can be submitted anonymously; however, reports accompanied by names and contact information are helpful if FDA regulators need to follow-up for more information.

Children's Privacy: FDA will not collect or store information from children under 13. If a child sends us an email inquiry or comment, we will answer it and then delete the email from our files.

Additional Resources

Tobacco Control Act
	Small Business Assistance for the Tobacco Product Industry
	Help FDA Keep Kids from Using Tobacco
	Report a Problem with a Tobacco Product

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). The Health Consequences of Smoking - 50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2014.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      09/25/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 TobaccoCompliance, Enforcement & Training

          
                        Advisory and Enforcement Actions Against Industry for Selling Tobacco Products to Underage Purchasers
          Advisory and Enforcement Actions Against Industry for Unauthorized Tobacco Products
          Compliance and Enforcement Report
          FDA Tobacco Compliance Webinars
          Report Potential Tobacco Product Violation
          Small Business Assistance for Tobacco Product Industry


                        Tobacco Retailer Warning Letters
          Manufacturing
          Retail Sales of Tobacco Products
          State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Governments
 
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