Convenience stores, smoke shops and gas stations across Whitemarsh and Plymouth townships face a new state enforcement push on vape sales. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Thursday, Oct. 8, that his office can begin enforcing Act 57, a law banning the sale of unapproved electronic nicotine products, starting Oct. 19.
The law affects more than 10,000 businesses statewide, according to Glenside Local. Disposable vaporizers, vape juice and e-cigarette products not listed on the state's approved directory will be illegal to sell.
Only six companies are currently approved to sell electronic nicotine products in Pennsylvania: Blue Nine, Custom Technologies, Juul Labs, NJoy, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and the Schwartz E-Liquid.
Approved devices include the Juul, NJoy Ace and Vuse Alto, commonly stocked at Wawa and other chain convenience stores. The full list is available on the attorney general's ENDS directory. That short approved list means many of the flavored disposable vapes and off-brand products lining shelves at independent smoke shops along Ridge Pike and Germantown Pike may not qualify.
Fines add up fast
First-time violators face a $500 fine for each banned item found on their shelves. A second violation jumps to $1,000 per day, per product, plus a license suspension. A third offense carries a $1,500 daily fine per product, license revocation and the cost of destroying seized inventory.
Sunday said in the Oct. 8 announcement that the law aims to keep harmful products away from children and adults who may not know what they are consuming. His office said it plans targeted enforcement across the state, with inspectors also providing compliance education during visits. The office is still working with companies whose product applications are pending or incomplete.
A pattern in Montgomery County
The vape enforcement follows a broader trend in Montgomery County. On Sept. 30, District Attorney Kevin Steele announced criminal charges against 46 businesses in 26 municipalities for illegal THC sales, a separate investigation, as reported by The Reporter. Steele's office noted the county has 240 smoke shops, roughly one for every two square miles.
"Too many smoke shops and gas stations have become distributors of wholly unregulated, dangerous, and in this case, illegal products," Steele said at the Sept. 30 news conference announcing the THC charges.
As we reported Thursday, Oct. 8, local businesses also face an Oct. 13 deadline to remove illegal skill-game machines.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Act 57 in December 2025 after the state House passed it 147-56. Retailers carrying unapproved vape products can check the attorney general's ENDS directory to verify whether their inventory is approved before inspections begin.
