Arkansas’s Crackdown on Disposable Vapes Forces a Market Reset

Arkansas’s crackdown on vaping comes at a pivotal moment, with Act 590 officially taking effect on Monday, September 1. The law bans closed-system, single-use disposable vape products and e-liquids containing nicotine unless they are authorized or under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Vape shops across the state are now making sweeping adjustments to comply. As the legislation evolved, it offered limited emergency provisions to help sellers manage the transition. Many retailers have since cleared their shelves, accepted the new rules, and begun reshaping their business models.

For customers, the shift is already visible. Retailers are guiding people through product changes and helping them adapt to what has quickly become a new reality for Arkansas’s vape market.

From Total Ban to Registry

Shopkeepers say they are somewhat relieved that the final version of Act 590 is less restrictive than the original proposal. The first draft of the law sought to ban nearly all vape products by requiring every item to be placed on a strict product registry.

This proposal drew sharp opposition from shop owners, who argued it would destroy their businesses. Many said it would have caused a complete shutdown, since the only products available would be those listed on the registry. “It’s not possible to run a business just selling five products,” one retailer noted.

After lobbying for revisions, small business owners eventually supported the updated law, which permits the sale of FDA-authorized products.

The new law requires vape makers to have their closed devices approved and registered. That effectively bans closed, disposable products, while reusable systems remain available.

Act 590 also aims to protect children by limiting marketing tactics. Effective August 5, vape and e-cigarette products can no longer use designs, labels, or packaging that appeal to minors, such as cartoons, superheroes, or names like cake and candy. This provision has drawn no opposition.

The Updated Registry

As of August 28, Arkansas Tobacco Control (ATC) updated its Manufacturer Directory for Vapor Products and E-liquid Products. The directory currently includes the following brand families: 21st Century Smoke, blu, Breeze Smoke Disposable Pod Ends Tobacco, Crossbar E-Cigarette, eCig 4 Inmate, JUUL, Leap, Leap Go, Power, Pro, Naked 100, NJOY, and Vuse.

The update comes at a time when Chinese-made disposable vapes are increasingly entering the U.S. market, even as federal regulators continue to debate how best to oversee vaping products.

According to the nonprofit health organization Truth Initiative, more than 80 percent of e-cigarette and vape products sold in the United States in 2024 were not authorized by the FDA.

Enforcement and Compliance

Businesses have until November 1, 2025, to remove all disposable vape products from their shelves. After that date, inspectors will issue fines of $1,000 for each product found in violation.

“If you have these products, they will be seized,” warned Scott Hardin, spokesperson for Arkansas Tobacco Control (ATC). “In addition, you could face a significant fine, up to the point of permit revocation. There are products from across the world that are being sold at these retailers and frankly we don’t know what’s in them.”

Hardin noted that ATC will continue publishing lists of approved products. Currently, the FDA has only authorized 39 e-cigarette products. “Right now, we’ve got about a dozen companies or products that have applied, and we’ve approved, I think, nine of those,” he added.

Shop owners and vape manufacturers appear ready to accept the enforcement, recognizing it as preferable to a complete ban. Lawmakers can take satisfaction that at least some regulatory action has been taken to address the issue.