The Tobacco Enforcement Program is responsible for oversight of enforcement of all tobacco related statutes in Title 22 representing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These include laws on retail tobacco sales, public and workplace smoking. The Program has a contract with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to enforce provisions of the Tobacco Control Act as they apply to tobacco retailers. The Program coordinates with the Office of Substance Abuse, the Single State Agency (SSA) designated to report compliance under the Synar program to the U.S. DHHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). The Program oversees the DHHS subcontract to Howe, Cahill & Company to conduct unannounced undercover retail tobacco compliance check inspections to assess compliance for preventing tobacco sales to underage youth to meet the requirements of the Synar Amendment. The Program advises the DHHS Health Inspection Program regarding retail tobacco sales licensing. The Program supports the Maine CDC Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program and Maine Prevention Services initiative to reduce the incidence of underage use of tobacco products in Maine.
Tobacco Manufacturers and Brands
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Reardon via email at elizabeth.reardon@maine.gov or Senior Legal Secretary Fatima Lima at fatima.lima@maine.gov
Compliant Manufacturers' Brand Reporting
If you are a compliant tobacco product manufacturer, as defined by Maine law, and would like your brands to be included in the Directory, you must complete and submit:
Distributors' Quarterly Reporting
Pursuant to Title 22, section 1580-L(9), tobacco distributors are required to file a quarterly sales report through our online reporting service:
If sales for the quarter included cigarettes or roll-your-own, this spreadsheet must be completed and uploaded with your online submission:
Non-Participating Manufacturers' Escrow Reporting
All Non-Participating Manufacturers and their escrow agents must execute:
In addition, Chapter 200 of the Department of Attorney General rules requires certain non-participating manufacturers to make and certify quarterly escrow payments:
Directory of Compliant Tobacco Manufacturers and Brands
The state of Maine prohibits the sale of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco (RYO) not listed on a Directory maintained by this Office. Any person who sells cigarettes or RYO not included on the Directory commits a criminal offense, as well as a violation of Maine's Unfair Trade Practices Act, Title 22, section 1580-L.
- Directory of compliant tobacco manufacturers and brands (Excel)
- Flavored Cigars Approved for Sale in Maine (PDF)
Directory De-Listing Notifications
On the noted effective dates, the following manufacturers and brands were removed from the directory of compliant tobacco manufacturers and brands:
- March 21, 2023: TABESA (Manufacturer) and Palermo (Brand)
- May 30, 2022: Grand River Enterprises Six, Ltd. (Manufacturer) and Couture (Brand)
- May 30, 2022: Scandanavian Tobacco Group Lane Ltd. (Manufacturer) and Samson (Brand)
- May 1, 2022: KT&G (Manufacturer) and Carnival, THIS, and Timeless Time (Brands)
To see the original delisting notification documents, see our Archives.
Retail Tobacco Training Incentive
The Maine Tobacco Retailer Training program was created jointly by the Office of the Attorney General and Maine CDC Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program (TSUPCP) in an effort to remind employers, managers and employees that, along with stiff fines and penalties for selling tobacco to underage consumers, there is a compelling public health incentive for blocking tobacco sales to minors. The program also rewards retailers by factoring in participation and compliance records should a violation occur.
For more information, contact Devon Cummings, Tobacco Enforcement Coordinator, at Devon.L.Cummings@maine.gov or (207) 626-8574.
Public Smoking and Workplace Smoking
The Office of the Attorney General and Department of Health and Human Services provide guidance regarding Maine law pertaining to smoking in public places and workplace smoking. The Office of the Attorney General enforces violations of Maine’s laws relating to smoking in public places and workplace smoking, including provisions governing smoking in private clubs. To report a workplace smoking violation, please use the Maine CDC online reporting service.