§ 215.2105. No Tobacco Sales to Minors — Alternative Nicotine Products, Vapor Products and Nicotine Liquid Containers — Sale to Minors Prohibited.

A. 

Any person or entity who sells tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products shall deny the sale of such tobacco products to any person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age.

B. 

Any person or entity who sells or distributes tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products by mail or through the Internet in this State in violation of Subsection (A) of this Section shall be assessed a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first violation and five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent violation.

C. 

Alternative nicotine products and vapor products shall only be sold to persons eighteen (18) years of age or older, shall be subject to local and State sales tax, but shall not be otherwise taxed or regulated as tobacco products.

D. 

Nicotine Liquid Containers — Regulations.

1. 

Any nicotine liquid container that is sold at retail in this State shall satisfy the child-resistant effectiveness standards set forth in 16 CFR 1700.15(b) as in effect on the effective date of this Section when tested in accordance with the method described in 16 CFR 1700.20 as in effect on the effective date of this Section.

2. 

For the purposes of this Subsection, “nicotine liquid container” shall mean a bottle or other container of liquid or other substance containing nicotine if the liquid or substance is sold, marketed, or intended for use in a vapor product. A “nicotine liquid container” shall not include a liquid or other substance containing nicotine in a cartridge that is sold, marketed, or intended for use in a vapor product, provided that such cartridge is prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer and not intended to be opened by the consumer.

3. 

Any person who engages in retail sales of liquid nicotine containers in this State in violation of this Subsection shall be assessed a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first violation and five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent violation.

4. 

The Department of Health and Senior Services may adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this Subsection. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in Section 536.010, RSMo., that is created under the authority delegated in that Section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of Chapter 536, RSMo., and, if applicable, Section 536.028, RSMo. This Section and Chapter 536, RSMo., are non-severable, and if any of the powers vested with the General Assembly under Chapter 536, RSMo., to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2015, shall be invalid and void.

5. 

The provisions of this Subsection and any rules adopted hereunder shall be null, void, and of no force and effect upon the effective date of the final regulations issued by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or from any other Federal agency if such regulations mandate child-resistant effectiveness standards for nicotine liquid containers.