For years, tobacco companies have been distributing free samples of tobacco products, targeting young people in particular to lure new customers. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, commonly referred to as the FDA law, created new restrictions on this practice (known as “sampling”) but did not eliminate it completely.

This fact sheet explains what types of sampling the federal law prevents and where, outlining what communities can do to further restrict free tobacco giveaways. You can also download an updated version of our model California ordinance that allows cities and counties to completely ban all tobacco sampling, and a checklist highlighting key policy options available in the ordinance. 

Sampling: How does the FDA law affect local ordinances in California? is one of a series of fact sheets - called FDA Law Notes - that PHLP has produced to explain issues related to the 2009 FDA Law.