Amazon has reached a settlement with the state of Vermont over allegations of violating the state's Delivery Sales Ban, which prohibits shipping tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping items, directly to consumers in Vermont. The settlement was announced by Attorney General Charity Clark.
The issue arose from Amazon's failure to prevent third-party sellers from bypassing its internal rules designed to stop the sale of tobacco and vaping products. "The youth vaping crisis commands each of us to follow the rules put in place to protect children from harm, and Amazon failed to do that," stated Attorney General Clark. She emphasized the risks posed by online sales of vaping products, which allow minors access without age verification and enable sellers to avoid state taxes on tobacco products.
An investigation by the Attorney General’s Office revealed that numerous tobacco-related items were sold through Amazon's platform over several years. Third-party sellers managed to circumvent Amazon's preventive measures by using misleading titles and images for their listings, which were later altered post-approval to display prohibited products. In response to these findings, Amazon has implemented improved systems to detect such manipulations.
As part of the agreement, Amazon will pay $400,000 to Vermont and enhance its controls against illegal sales into the state. Additionally, Amazon has committed to cooperating with the Attorney General’s Office in enforcing actions against any third-party sellers who continue attempting to evade these controls.
Individuals aware of illegal online sales of vaping products can report them via email at AGO.TobaccoEnforcement@vermont.gov.