PCA files California Regulatory Comment with Industry Coalition

by Premium Cigar Association | Aug 18, 2025 | State News

In response to a regulatory posting by the California Attorney General’s Office, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has filed comments expressing industry concerns on behalf of a premium cigar coalition. 

The California legislature tasked the Attorney General’s Office with developing an “unflavored tobacco list,” in the wake of a referendum passed flavored tobacco products ban, which also allows for the imposition of fees to establish the list.

With a narrow window to comment following the regulatory posting, the PCA assembled a coalition that includes the Boutique Cigar Association (BCA) and the new California Premium Cigar Association, while soliciting industry-wide input from retailers and distributors within the state, and guidance from regulatory counsel. 

The PCA has taken issue with the “emergency status” the Attorney General used to issue the regulations, which characterized the rules as being needed to “avoid serious harm to the public peace, health, safety and general welfare.” The PCA provided evidence the youth access and adverse public health issues are not to be equated with premium handmade cigars. 

Further, the PCA provided input on the economic and regulatory burden the regulations will place on small businesses, from manufacturers to local cigar shops. PCA took issue with vague terms such as “characterizing flavor” and the excessive documentation expected from manufacturers for placement on the list. Every SKU for each brand and package variant would have to be submitted, accompanied by a fee that could run into the tens of thousands of dollars, just to be allowed in the California market.

Glynn Loope, PCA Director of State Advocacy stated, “These regulations and fees are a needless and costly burden to our manufacturer and retail partners, that will have no affect on youth access, protection of public health, or enforcement of the existing flavor tobacco ban. We have proposed common sense recommendations to improve the demands and mitigate the fiscal impact. We hope they take these requests to heart.” Loope added, “It also sets a horrible national precedent.”

Armen Caprielian, chairman of the Boutique Cigar Association (BCA) added, “These regulations and fees will make doing business in California cost prohibitive for many of our members. We hope the Attorney General’s Office listens to this plea facilitated by the PCA.”

Kim Squire of Squire Cigars as President and Eric Smaldino of Napa Cigars as Vice President of the California Premium Cigar Association noted, “These regulations will result in fewer brands on our shelves, fewer selections for our customers, and directly threatens the bottom line for California small businesses. The potential exists to bar limited editions and house brands upon which many customers and retailers have come to expect and look forward to. We appreciate PCA engaging on this issue.”

The PCA will be monitoring the issuance of final regulations, and will be working with industry allies to address all possible options to respond to this action.

You can view PCA’s filed comment on California’s Proposed Unflavored Tobacco List Emergency Regulations by clicking here.