The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), along with Cigar Rights of America (CRA), Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc., Oliva Cigar Co., Piloto Cigars, Inc. (d/b/a Padrón Cigars, Inc.), A. Fuente & Co., LLC, Ashton Distributors, Inc., Premium Imports, Inc. (d/b/a La Flor Dominicana), and My Father Cigars, has filed an emergency Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) seeking immediate relief from California’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) regulations.
The emergency filing comes after the California court did not act on an earlier request for a preliminary injunction. The TRO urges the court to act before the October 9 deadline to halt enforcement of Assembly Bill 3218 and its implementing regulations as they apply to premium cigars defined under federal law (21 C.F.R. § 1114.3).
PCA and its co-plaintiffs pursued this action following multiple good-faith efforts to reach a resolution with the California Attorney General’s Office. Despite repeated requests—including one as recent as October 6—to delay the compliance deadline, the state declined to provide relief. The motion argues that the UTL regulations are arbitrary, unworkable, and impose impossible timelines for compliance on legitimate premium cigar businesses.
Because the filing was made ahead of the October 9, 2025 deadline, the Court may issue a response as early as tomorrow. The October 9th deadline is still currently in effect and entities wishing to sell products in California in 2026 are recommended to submit their information for the UTL by that deadline. If you encounter an issue during submission, please contact glynn@premiumcigars.org for assistance. The PCA will continue to provide updates as developments occur.