WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service (USPS) is no longer allowing commercial business-to-customer shipments of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). This new rule includes vape pens, e-cigarettes and e-liquid pods, and has some exceptions.
The change is required under the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that recently took effect. Convenience-store association NACS, Alexandria, Va., applauded the act when it passed, saying it would help ensure adults are the only purchasers of e-cigarettes over the internet.
The bill requires online e-cigarette retailers to verify the age of customers for all purchases, require an adult with ID to be present for delivery, and to label shipping packages to show they contain tobacco/nicotine products, among other things.
The USPS mailing requirements now restrict shipments of ENDS, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in domestic mail. ENDS also include components, liquids, parts or accessories for such devices. However, there are exceptions, including:
- Shipments within Alaska or Hawaii
- Shipments between businesses approved by the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC)
- Noncommercial shipments by adult individuals
- Shipments of cigarettes for consumer testing by PCSC-approved manufacturers or federal agencies
While individuals can ship tobacco products between each other, it must not be more than 10 packages within 30 days and the packages can’t weigh more than 10 ounces, according to USPS, Washington.
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