California Publishes First “Unflavored Tobacco List” to Strengthen Flavor Ban
by Twlia Laster, Project Director at The SOL Project
California has just published its first-ever Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL). This list shows which tobacco products are allowed to be sold in the state under rules meant to reduce flavored tobacco use. https://utl.doj.ca.gov/
Under a new state law (Assembly Bill 3218), tobacco companies had to submit products for review by October 2025. If a product is not on the UTL, it is considered flavored and cannot be sold in California.
This new list gives clarity to local and state law enforcement officers, retailers, and communities about what products are legal and what products are not. It also makes it easier to hold stores accountable if they try to sell illegally flavored products.
Flavored tobacco products have been shown to attract young people and make it easier for tobacco companies to hook new users. Removing most flavored products from shelves is a key part of stopping tobacco addiction before it starts.
What This Means for the Tobacco Endgame
The tobacco endgame is a long-term public health goal to dramatically reduce tobacco use and deaths from tobacco-related disease. The endgame focuses on reducing the supply and appeal of tobacco products so fewer people start smoking or vaping and more people quit. The Unflavored Tobacco List is a policy tool that moves California closer to that outcome. By removing flavored products that appeal especially to youth and young adults, this law helps shrink the market for tobacco and supports healthier communities.
This is not just a law that affects retailers. It supports a broader shift in how tobacco products are regulated and sold, adding strength and precision to flavor bans and enforcement efforts that are already in place.
How Local Advocates Can Use This Information
Local tobacco education and prevention advocates can use the UTL in several ways when talking with decision makers and code enforcement officers:
- Educate elected officials on why the UTL matters: It reduces flavored tobacco availability and closes loopholes so illegal flavored products cannot be sold.
- Share the UTL with code enforcement officers so they know what products should and should not be sold locally.
- Use the list in compliance checks to help retailers understand what they must remove from shelves.
- Include UTL info in community meetings to show how local flavor bans are supported by clear statewide policy and tools.
- Show case studies from nearby cities or counties that are already enforcing flavored tobacco laws, linking local success to state policy.
By giving decision makers and enforcement staff this clear information, community advocates strengthen local efforts to protect youth and prevent tobacco addiction.
If you see a retailer selling products that are not on the Unflavored Tobacco List, you can report it to the California Department of Public Health or the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration using their enforcement hotlines.
Policies like the UTL are part of a larger movement to reduce tobacco harm, push tobacco companies to the margins, and help communities reach a future where fewer people smoke and tobacco-related deaths decline.
TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tobacco Endgame
A long-term public health goal to greatly reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related harm. The endgame focuses on prevention, quitting support, and limiting tobacco sales, not punishment.
Flavored Tobacco Ban
A state and local law that prohibits the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including menthol. Flavors attract youth and make addiction more likely.
Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL)
A state-published list of tobacco products that manufacturers say are not flavored. Products not on this list are considered flavored and illegal to sell in California.
UTL Compliance Steps
- Check the Unflavored Tobacco List
- Remove any tobacco products not listed
- Educate staff on what can and cannot be sold
- Work with local code enforcement during inspections
For questions about the Unflavored Tobacco List or flavored tobacco enforcement contact: (916) 210-6000 email: agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
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