Local Retailers Pass FDA Tobacco Compliance Check

In order to make sure that local retailers that sell cheap cigarettes products are not selling to minors and are in compliance with federal laws, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with state regulators in conducting check inspections of those who sell the products.
Many may question the importance in doing this, but according to reports, retailers do play a very important role in the health protection of America's youth. This can be accomplished by not selling, marketing, or advertising discount cigarette online or smokeless online cigarettes products to underage children and adolescents. The design of the laws are to make the tobacco products less accessible and less attractive to the nation's youth.

According to reports, on a daily basis, almost 3,500 youth between 12 and 17-years of age take that first puff on a cigarette, and an estimated 850 youth begin smoking cigarettes cigarettes every day. Before fully understanding the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes, many of these children will become addicted to tobacco and some may eventually die of tobacco-related causes.

Retailers can play an important role in protecting children and adolescents from these things simply by complying with the law.

During a random check of 34 stores in Service Area 20, which consists of the counties of Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, and Mississippi County, it was found that two of these stores did sell tobacco products to minors. Those two stores which failed to meet compliance were The Tobacco Shoppe, of Kennett, and The Junction, of Holcomb. Both were issued a warning letter for being noncompliant with the FDA.

According to reports, the remaining 32 stores did pass the FDA tobacco compliance law which simply means, these retailers do not sell tobacco products to minors. The Regional Support Center located in Kennett, would like to recognize those stores in compliance with the law which include, Casey's General Store located at 1108 Independence, Corner Market and Package, Hucks Food and Fuel, and Westside Package, all located in the city.

Other retailers included outside of the city that are in compliance are Casey's General Store located at 211 South Story Street, Casey's General Store located at 308 East Marshall Street, Casey's General Store located at 1202 South Main Street, Charles Top Notch Package Liquor, Cheers Food and Fuel, Country Mart, McClain Brothers Grocery, Pilot Oil Unit, Reeves Boomland and Amoco, and T and J'S Package retailers, all located in Charleston, Mo.; Baker's Big Star, Buddy's Package Store, Casey's General Store, Food Rite, Four-Way Quick Shop, Fred's Super Dollar Stores, Gas N Go/Phillip 66, Pilot Travel Center No.301, and Stop and Shop in Portageville, Mo.; Casey's General Store, DUS, KC Jiffy Mart, and Kathy's Hometown Deli in East Prairie, Mo., Shell Food Mart in Hayti, Mo.; Car Macs Shell in Holland, Mo.; Front Street Market in Morehouse, Mo.; which was checked twice, and The Mustang in Wardell, Mo.

All stores were visited during the months of April, May, June and July of this year.

The FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) will be hosting a series of one-hour webinars that are designed to provide FDA compliance training information. During each of these webinars, there will be a Question and Answer session.