Florida Drops Cigar Wholesaler Permit

Last month, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) made a change discontinuing its cigar wholesale permit.

Going forward, companies engaged in selling cigars to licensed alcohol or tobacco retailers do not need to have a permit to do so:

Effective immediately, the State of Florida no longer requires a permit for the wholesale/distribution of cigars to licensed alcohol or tobacco retailers. This aligns with current regulatory interpretations and removes the need for cigar distributors to obtain a specific permit for these activities. Entities engaged solely in the wholesale distribution of cigars to licensed retailers may now operate without holding a Cigar Wholesaler Permit. All businesses currently operating under this permit are not required to renew or maintain this permit moving forward. For further clarification or questions regarding this update, please contact the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at [email protected].

The change appears to be a result of a March 31 meeting by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, a part of the Florida Legislature.

Previously, companies would apply for the permit, which was issued free of charge. As of last month, those permits are no longer required, nor can they be renewed.