ENFORCEMENT
PA Act 112 Tobacco Merchant Enforcement
Tobacco Free Northeast PA Enforcement program protects children from starting to smoke by reducing youth access to tobacco products. Our primary goal is to eliminate sales of tobacco products to youth through ensuring merchant and clerk compliance with the Pennsylvania state law governing sales of tobacco products to minors, Act 112, Crimes and Offenses Tobacco Sales and Vending Machines Placement.
This is accomplished through:
- Enforcement of Pennsylvania’s law on merchant and clerk compliance
- Educating tobacco store owners, clerks, community members and public officials about the law and enforcement
- Conduct annual compliance checks with all tobacco merchants throughout the Northeast Health District’s 10 counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming.
These activities are conducted by local tobacco enforcement agents who are trained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Tobacco Control and Prevention program staff.
Retailers who violate the law face serious penalties. They can be fined, and if convicted, their tobacco sales license can be suspended.
Timeline (Infographic): Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
FDA Regulation to Protect Public Health: Infographic
SYNAR
A Federal Law that requires States to enact and enforce laws prohibiting the sale and distribution of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18. Synar is a critical component of the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, States not in compliance risk losing up to 40% of their grant funding.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tobacco Regulation
FDA contracts with Pennsylania the Department of Health to provide local enforcement of youth sales and to monitor store advertising. Tobacco Free Northeast monitors stores as a part of our contract with PA Department of Health.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act. (Tobacco Control Act) gave FDA authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health generally and to reduce tobacco use by minors.
FDA has authority for manufacturing and sales of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, loose tobacco and is also required to inspect retailers.
For additional information, or to report the unlawful sale of tobacco products to minors, less than 18 years of age, or other unlawful tobacco sales practices,
please call 1-866-974-QUIT or click on the pdf to complete the violation report.
