Amazon was ordered to pay $400,000 to prevent third-party sellers from selling vapes to Vermont residents and to improve its review mechanisms to avoid future illegal online sales.
According to a report by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark on Oct. 16, Amazon announced that it would pay Vermont $400,000 and improve its review mechanism to mitigate allegations that it failed to prevent online merchants from selling vapes.
An investigation by the attorney general’s office revealed that third-party sellers have been selling tobacco products, particularly vapes, to state residents on Amazon in recent years. This behavior violates Vermont law, which prohibits the sale of cigarette products online to anyone other than a licensed dealer. Under the settlement, Amazon also banned the sale of vapes and put in place various safeguards to prevent such sales.
However, the settlement documents note that “from July 2019 through Sep 2024, some vapes were still sold by third-party sellers through the Amazon store and shipped to Vermont customers.”
The settlement says Amazon did not improve its oversight in detail after the Vermont attorney general informed it of the violations.
In addition to the payment. Amazon will make a list of vendors selling cigarette products to Vermont for the next four years, known as the Vermont Avoid Business List. And, if necessary, to provide the Minister of Justice with the list.
Clark said in a press release on Wednesday:
- “The plight of youth vaping requires each of us to follow rules that protect children from harm, and Amazon has failed to do so.” I cannot turn a blind eye to online sales of vape brands giving minors access to these harmful goods without age verification.”
