Effective Oct. 21, the Postal Service’s mailing requirements will include vape pens, e-cigarettes, e-liquid pods, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as generally nonmailable matter.
The change is required by the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that recently took effect.
ENDS are defined as electronic devices that deliver a substance, which may or may not include nicotine, to a user through an aerosolized solution inhaled from the device. ENDS also include components, liquids, parts or accessories for such devices.
USPS mailing requirements currently restrict shipments of ENDS, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in domestic mail.
However, domestic shipments can be considered mailable only if they qualify for one of the following conditional exceptions:
• Shipments within Alaska or within Hawaii;
• Shipments between businesses approved by the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC);
• Shipments between PCSC-approved businesses and federal or state regulators;
• Noncommercial shipments by adult individuals; and
• Shipments of cigarettes for consumer testing by PCSC-approved manufacturers or federal agencies.
Other than within Alaska or Hawaii, commercial business-to-customer shipments of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and ENDS products do not qualify for any exception and are prohibited.
Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and ENDS are also prohibited — without exception — in inbound and outbound international mail; shipments to and from Army/Air Post Office, Fleet Post Office and Diplomatic Post Office addresses; and shipments to and from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
The Postal Explorer, PostalPro and Federal Register websites have more information.
