California’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL): What Will Be Allowed for Nicotine Pouches (2025–2026)
Last updated: October 13, 2025
California’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) is a new, state‑maintained directory of tobacco/nicotine products that lack a characterizing flavor and can be legally sold in California. Once the official list is live, only products on the UTL may be sold in‑state. This guide explains what “unflavored” means, key dates, expected eligible nicotine pouch SKUs, and practical checklists for brands and retailers.
TL;DR
- The Attorney General must publish the initial UTL by December 31, 2025.
- After publication, only products on the UTL may be sold in California.
- “Unflavored” means no fruit, mint/menthol, wintergreen, dessert, coffee, or cooling sensations—only the inherent tobacco taste (or truly neutral).
- Expect listings limited to unflavored and tobacco‑only nicotine pouches; “cooling” or “Chill/Ice/Cool” products are treated as flavored.
What is the UTL?
The Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) is an online list California will maintain to identify tobacco/nicotine products that lack a characterizing flavor. Once the list is published, any product not on the UTL will be unlawful to sell in California.
Key dates & who must comply
| Milestone | Date / Timing | Who it impacts |
|---|---|---|
| UTL emergency regulations approved | August 25, 2025 | Manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, delivery sellers, retailers |
| Manufacturer application deadline (initial list consideration) | October 9, 2025 | Manufacturers & importers |
| Initial UTL must be published | By December 31, 2025 | All parties above |
| Post‑publication rule | After the UTL goes live | Only listed products may be sold in California; non‑listed/flavored products are subject to seizure and penalties. |
What “unflavored” means in California
California defines a characterizing flavor as any distinct taste, aroma, or cooling sensation other than tobacco. This includes mint/menthol/wintergreen, fruit, dessert/candy, beverage/coffee, and similar notes. Products marketed as “Chill,” “Ice,” or “Cool,” or that produce a menthol‑like cooling effect, are treated as flavored and therefore ineligible.
Nicotine pouch SKUs likely to qualify
How to use this table: These are popular SKUs widely marketed as unflavored or tobacco‑only. Final eligibility depends on the official UTL once published. Each brand name links to your collection page for easy shopping.
| Brand → Shop | Likely‑Compliant Variant | Common Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZYN | Smooth (unflavored) | 3 mg, 6 mg | Neutral taste; avoid ZYN “Chill” in CA due to cooling/camphor‑like sensation. |
| On! | Original (unflavored) | 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg | Dry mini pouches with no added flavorings. |
| Rogue | Original (flavor‑free) | 3 mg, 6 mg | Neutral taste; no sweeteners or flavor additives. |
| Rogue | Tabac (tobacco taste) | 3 mg, 6 mg | Tobacco taste is permitted (not a characterizing flavor). |
| FRE | Original (no added flavor) | 3–15 mg | Wide strength range; choose true “Original,” not “Sweet.” |
| Lucy | Unflavored | 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg | Flavor‑free line aimed at flavor‑ban markets. |
| Sesh+ | Clear (flavorless) | 4 mg, 6 mg, 8 mg | Moist pouches formulated without flavor additives. |
| VELO | VELO Plus “Smooth” (tobacco/neutral) | 3 mg, 6 mg, 9 mg | Marketed as classic/neutral; all mint/fruit/cooling VELO SKUs are out in CA. |
| CLEW | Original (unflavored) | 3 mg, 6 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg | Flavor‑free profile intended for compliance states. |
| Grizzly | Original (tobacco taste) | 9 mg, 12 mg, 15 mg | Classic tobacco taste; flavored Grizzly SKUs (e.g., Wintergreen) are not eligible. |
Important: The official UTL is the controlling source. A SKU is legal in CA only if it appears on the Attorney General’s list once published.
Products unlikely to qualify
| Category | Examples | Why they’re out in CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling / “Chill,” “Ice,” “Cool” | ZYN Chill, “Watermelon Ice,” “Cool Mint,” etc. | Cooling sensation is treated as a characterizing flavor. |
| Mint / Menthol / Wintergreen | Spearmint, Peppermint, Menthol, Wintergreen | Non‑tobacco taste or aroma; fails UTL standard. |
| Fruit / Dessert / Coffee | Mango, Citrus, Berry, Vanilla, Caramel, Coffee/Espresso | Non‑tobacco taste or aroma; fails UTL standard. |
Manufacturer requirements (application, fees, FDA status)
- Application: Submit product details and certify the SKU lacks a characterizing flavor (penalty of perjury applies).
- Key initial deadline: October 9, 2025 for inclusion on the first published list.
- Fees (typical structure): ~$300 per brand style for initial application and ~$150 per variant/annual renewal (exact amounts are set in the AG’s rules).
- FDA status: If a product requires FDA authorization, lack of authorization generally makes it ineligible, with limited exceptions for timely pending applications.
- Packaging/marketing: Names, descriptors, or imagery implying flavor (including cooling) can disqualify the SKU.
Retailer checklist
- After publication, sell only SKUs on the UTL (check the state’s online directory before stocking).
- Do not stock “cooling” or flavored pouches (mint/menthol/wintergreen/fruit/coffee/etc.).
- Apply the same rules to delivery/online sales shipping to CA addresses.
- Expect inspections and potential seizure of unlisted/flavored products plus civil penalties for violations.
- Maintain age‑gating, point‑of‑sale compliance, and required records.
Shop unflavored & tobacco‑only pouches at CaliPouch: ZYN · On! · Rogue · FRE · Sesh+ · VELO · Grizzly
FAQ
When will California publish the Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL)?
By December 31, 2025. After publication, only products on the UTL may be sold in California.
Are cooling or “Chill/Ice” nicotine pouches allowed in California?
No. California treats a cooling sensation as a characterizing flavor, so these products are prohibited.
Do nicotine pouches need FDA authorization to be listed on the UTL?
Products that require FDA authorization and do not have it are generally ineligible for the UTL, subject to specific exceptions for timely, pending applications.
Are tobacco‑flavored pouches permitted?
Yes. A tobacco‑only taste is not a characterizing flavor under California law.
Compliance note: This article is for informational purposes for adult (21+) consumers, retailers, and manufacturers. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Always follow state, local, and federal law.