California Tobacco Directory

Since June 30, 2004, the Attorney General has maintained and published a list of all tobacco product manufacturers and their cigarette or roll-your-own tobacco product brand families that have provided current, timely, and accurate annual certifications and other required forms in compliance with section 30165.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. This list is called the California Tobacco Directory. All cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco products and their manufacturers must be included on the Tobacco Directory before such products may be distributed, sold, offered for sale, or possessed for sale in this state. (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 30165.1, subd. (e).) The annual certification and other required forms are available online on our Directory Forms web page.

The California Tobacco Directory was created through the enactment of the California Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003 (Assembly Bill 71 [Chapter 890, Statutes 2003]) (“the Act”)). The Act seeks to ensure that tobacco manufacturers who have not joined the Master Settlement Agreement (so called "non-participating manufacturers" or “NPMs”) comply with California’s tobacco laws, including the reserve fund statute (Health & Saf. Code, §§ 104555-104557), the directory law (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 30165.1), and the licensing laws (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 22970 et seq.). The text of these laws and implementing regulations are available online on our Legislation & Regulations web page.

Please note that tobacco products commonly known as “little cigars” currently do not have to be listed on the California Tobacco Directory in order to be sold lawfully in California. Please be advised that the Attorney General may determine in the future that certain brands of little cigars must be listed on the California Tobacco Directory.

If you have a question about the California Tobacco Directory, please contact us.

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California Tobacco Directory