It can seem that buying, and also selling vapes in 2025, gets more complicated by the day. One way to navigate this is to focus on FDA approved vapes, which can then keep you from buying or, if you’re a retailer, accidentally selling products that are counterfeit, illegal, or even unsafe. So, if we concentrate on FDA approved vapes, it will help to know what that means. As of late 2025, we can look at which products are currently approved by the FDA. We’ll also see how you can track which products become approved, as that list grows over time. Plus, you’ll see how to find and shop with a compliant e-cigarette retailer.
What Does FDA Approval Mean for Vapes?
FDA approval is actually reserved for food, drugs, and medical devices. E-cigarettes and associated products have a different classification called “FDA authorized.” They can’t be FDA approved vape brands, because that designation is reserved for products the FDA deems “safe and effective,” and that does not apply to tobacco or e-cigarettes.
Authorization from the FDA is the green light to sell vape products legally in the US. How this works is that the FDA is not only in charge of overseeing tobacco products, but also what’s termed “electronic nicotine delivery systems,” (ENDS). This oversight covers all vape products. The word authorized doesn’t, in this context, mean a vape product is good for you or that it’s totally safe to use.
How Vapes Get Authorized by the FDA
To get FDA authorization, companies submit a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA). These FDA PMTA vapes get reviewed regarding their ingredients, potential user behavior, and plans to keep the product away from kids. In 2025, authorized products have so far been limited to tobacco and menthol flavors, and unauthorized, "youth-attracting" flavors are not banned, but getting FDA authorization is extremely difficult. FDA Marketing Orders for tobacco and menthol e-cigarettes, when granted to a company, can allow the company to legally sell FDA authorized e-cigarettes, in the U.S.
List of FDA-Approved/Authorized Vapes
Vapers and retailers can check the FDA authorized vape list at any time. What’s evident when you view it, is it’s short; the FDA is careful on only providing FDA marketing orders for tobacco and menthol e-cigarettes. The list currently includes these brands:
- Vuse (R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company)
- NJOY LLC
- JUUL Labs Inc.
- Logic Technology Development LLC
It would not be accurate or helpful to include here which devices from these brands are included on the FDA authorized list, as it can often change, such as with patent cases. For the latest information on which e-cigarettes may be lawfully sold in the United States, please check this page on the FDA website so you will stay up-to-date on which e-cigarette products are FDA authorized.
How You Can Identify FDA Approved/Authorized Vapes
You can stay on the right side of FDA vape regulations by checking a few sources of FDA authorized e-cigarettes. Only authorized products can be sold without risking FDA enforcement actions, like product seizures or fines. Check these pages on the FDA’s website and watch for the following:
- Visit the FDA’s Searchable Tobacco Products Database and search by brand or manufacturer to confirm a product’s authorization status.
- Authorized products may note FDA approval on packaging, but always double-check claims against the FDA’s list.
- If you’re a retailer, track the FDA’s latest marketing decisions here.
- Stick to U.S.-based retailers with age verification. Avoid imported or sketchy “deals” that might be unauthorized.
What can you do to pick a trustworthy e-cigarette retailer? When picking an e-cigarette seller, go for ones that are Pact Act compliant—that’s a big clue they’re playing by the rules. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Check for Pact Act Compliance, this means that the retailers follow federal and state laws, like registering with the ATF, collecting taxes, verifying your age, and using private shipping carriers. They also avoid shipping to places with flavored vape bans and report sales data properly.
- Legit retailers will clearly state on their website if their products have FDA authorization.
- Customer feedback can tip you off about a seller’s trustworthy reputation.
- Good sellers double-check your age to stay compliant.
Only buy from U.S.-based retailers to reduce the risk of purchasing unauthorized vapes. By following these steps, you’ll have the best opportunity to buy FDA-authorized vapes without the hassle.
What About Non-Approved (Non-Authorized) Vapes?
While authorized vapes offer a regulated option, the market is still flooded with products that don’t have FDA authorization. Under FDA vape regulations, these unauthorized vapes are illegal to sell or distribute—they’re considered “adulterated” or “misbranded.” This includes flavored disposables like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, Lost Mary, and Puff Bar, which either lack PMTAs or were denied.
The FDA reported on September 10, 2025, that the government seized $86.5 million in illegal vapes; the biggest seizure ever. Retailers caught selling illegal e-cigarettes face fines up to over $21,000 per violation, and recent court rulings, like the April 2025 Supreme Court decision, back the FDA’s tough stance on flavored vape products.
Some states are taking actions of their own, such as Wisconsin in September 2025, which enacted laws to make retailers selling vapes that are not FDA authorized, subject to fines.
Consumers can face risks from illegal vapes. These products could be contaminated or have varying amounts of nicotine or other unknown substances present in them. Sticking to authorized vapes can help protect you from these hazards.
Shop for Quality Compliant Vapes from I Love Ecigs
In 2025, the world of FDA-authorized vapes is small but carefully reviewed. The focus stays on tobacco and menthol flavors that meet strict standards. Knowing what FDA authorized means, and where to check for the latest authorizations, can help you make choices that work for you and keep you on the right side of the law.
Shop for quality vape products at I Love Ecigs. Check out top-rated devices and products from trusted brands like Logic, Jinx, Juul, Blu, and Vuse on I Love Ecigs’ site. View our product line for a great vape selection!