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  • Mar 06, 2026
  • By WTVAPGO
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Alaska Attorney General Sends Letters to More Than 1,500 Retailers and Distributors: Stop Selling Unauthorized E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches


March 6, 2026

The Alaska Attorney General’s Office has sent warning letters to more than 1,500 retailers and distributors, ordering them to stop selling tobacco products that have not been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Key Points

  • The Alaska Attorney General’s Office sent warning letters to more than 1,500 retailers and distributors.
  • The warning covers unauthorized products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that have not received FDA authorization.
  • The state said it is especially targeting flavored products aimed at minors and products with built-in games.
  • The warning letter advises businesses to check the FDA’s authorized product lists, which include 39 e-cigarette products and 26 nicotine pouch products.

2Firsts, March 6, 2026

According to Law360, the Alaska Attorney General’s Office has sent warning letters to more than 1,500 retailers and distributors, reminding them that they may not sell tobacco products that have not been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Alaska Attorney General Stephen J. Cox said the purpose of the action is to remove unauthorized products from store shelves, with a particular focus on products marketed toward children.

Cox said that disposable flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches found in convenience stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores across Alaska are mainly manufactured in China and imported into the United States illegally. He said the manufacturers of these products have not completed the FDA’s required market authorization process, and therefore the products may not legally be sold in the state.

Cox also noted that federal law requires such products to receive FDA authorization before they can be marketed or sold. Without FDA review, the ingredients and health effects of these products cannot be properly verified.

The warning letter advises retailers to review the FDA’s list of authorized products, which includes 39 e-cigarette products and 26 nicotine pouch products. Products identified as unauthorized include fruit- or candy-flavored products, as well as products equipped with built-in games and features designed to encourage repeated use.

Cox also warned that nicotine use poses greater risks to minors, including possible brain harm and addiction. He further advised residents to properly dispose of unauthorized products, especially those containing lithium-ion batteries, because damaged batteries may cause fires.

The FDA has previously issued similar warning letters to retailers regarding unauthorized e-cigarette products with gaming functions. Last year, New York City also sued e-cigarette manufacturers, alleging that they sold unauthorized e-cigarettes containing game-like features.

At present, state laws restricting the sale of unauthorized e-cigarette products are facing legal challenges. These include a related case in Mississippi currently under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, as well as similar cases involving Virginia and North Carolina now being considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Image source: Alan Grinberg