2015 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 21a - Consumer Protection
Chapter 420g - Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Vapor Products
Section 21a-415a - Electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration. Renewal. Fees. Penalties.

(a) On and after March 1, 2016, no person in this state may manufacture an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product unless such person has obtained an electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration from the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to this section. An electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration shall allow the manufacture of electronic nicotine delivery systems or vapor products in this state. For the purposes of this section, “manufacturer” means any person who mixes, compounds, repackages or resizes any nicotine-containing electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product.

(b) (1) On or after January 1, 2016, any person desiring an electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration or a renewal of such a certificate of manufacturer registration shall make a sworn application therefor to the Department of Consumer Protection upon forms to be furnished by the department, showing the name and address of the applicant, the location of the place of business which is to be operated under such certificate of manufacturer registration and a financial statement setting forth all elements and details of any business transactions connected with the application. The application shall also indicate any crimes of which the applicant has been convicted. Applicants shall submit documents sufficient to establish that state and local building, fire and zoning requirements will be met at the place of manufacture. The department may, in its discretion, conduct an investigation to determine whether a certificate of manufacturer registration shall be issued to an applicant.

(2) The commissioner shall issue an electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration to any such applicant not later than thirty days after the date of application unless the commissioner finds: (A) The applicant has wilfully made a materially false statement in such application or in any other application made to the commissioner; (B) the applicant has neglected to pay any taxes due to this state; or (C) the applicant has been convicted of violating any of the cigarette or other tobacco products tax laws of this or any other state or the cigarette tax laws of the United States or has such a criminal record that the commissioner reasonably believes that such applicant is not a suitable person to be issued a license, provided no refusal shall be rendered under this subdivision except in accordance with the provisions of sections 46a-80 and 46a-81.

(3) A certificate of manufacturer registration issued under this section shall be renewed annually and may be suspended or revoked at the discretion of the Department of Consumer Protection. Any person aggrieved by a denial of an application, refusal to renew a certificate of manufacturer registration or suspension or revocation of a certificate of manufacturer registration may appeal in the manner prescribed for permits under section 30-55. An electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration shall not constitute property, nor shall it be subject to attachment and execution, nor shall it be alienable, except that it shall descend to the estate of a deceased holder of a certificate of manufacturer registration by the laws of testate or intestate succession.

(4) The applicant shall pay to the department a nonrefundable application fee of seventy-five dollars, which fee shall be in addition to the annual fee prescribed in subsection (c) of this section. An application fee shall not be charged for an application to renew a certificate of manufacturer registration.

(5) In any case in which a certificate of manufacturer registration has been issued to a partnership, if one or more of the partners dies or retires, the remaining partner or partners need not file a new application for the unexpired portion of the current certificate of manufacturer registration, and no additional fee for such unexpired portion shall be required. Notice of any such change shall be given to the department and the certificate of manufacturer registration shall be endorsed to show correct ownership. Whenever any partnership changes by reason of the addition of one or more partners, a new application and the payment of new application and annual fees shall be required.

(c) The annual fee for an electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration shall be four hundred dollars.

(d) The department may renew a certificate of manufacturer registration issued under this section that has expired if the applicant pays to the department any fine imposed by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (c) of section 21a-4, which fine shall be in addition to the fees prescribed in this section for the certificate of manufacturer registration applied for. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any certificate of manufacturer registration which is the subject of administrative or court proceedings.

(e) (1) Any person in this state who knowingly manufactures an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product without a certificate of manufacturer registration as required under this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars for each day of such violation, except that the commissioner may waive all or any part of such fine if it is proven to the commissioner’s satisfaction that the failure to obtain or renew such certificate of manufacturer registration was due to reasonable cause.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, any person whose electronic nicotine delivery system certificate of manufacturer registration has expired and who manufactures in this state an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, where such person’s period of operation without such certificate of manufacturer registration is not more than ninety days from the date of expiration of such certificate of manufacturer registration, shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined ninety dollars.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, no penalty shall be imposed under this subsection unless the commissioner sends written notice of any violation to the person who is subject to a penalty under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection and allows such person sixty days from the date such notice was sent to cease such violation and comply with the requirements of this section. Such written notice shall be sent, within available appropriations, by mail evidenced by a certificate of mailing or other similar United States Postal Service form from which the date of deposit can be verified.

(P.A. 15-244, S. 110.)

History: P.A. 15-244 effective January 1, 2016.