Vape product image review checklist — practical adult retail guide

A focused checklist to evaluate vape product images for adult retail pages. Covers image quality, labeling visibility, age-restriction cues, and jurisdiction limits. This is public information, not legal advice.

## Purpose and scope This vape product image review checklist is written for teams that operate adult retail pages and need a structured, evidence-led approach to image review in 2026. Use the checklist to make content decisions; do not treat it as a compliance determination. The U.S. FDA maintains public information about tobacco-product labeling and warning statements and is cited here for context, but requirements vary by product type and jurisdiction and the source is not legal advice.

## Quick checklist (decision points) - Adult targeting: Is the page explicitly for adults (age gating, account type)? If not, do not publish images aimed at adult-only products. Never target or appeal to persons under legal purchase age. - Image subject: Does the image depict the product packaging or the device clearly? Prefer product-on-white or contextual lifestyle shots that do not suggest use by non-adults. - Label legibility: Is required labeling or warning text visible and legible at typical thumbnail size? Presence of labels is a signal to evaluate further, not evidence of authorization or compliance. - Claims-free visuals: Ensure images do not include medical, cessation, or unverified performance claims. Text overlays should avoid health-related language. - Flavor and youth-appeal cues: Check for candy/cartoon motifs, childlike colors, or characters. If imagery could plausibly appeal to minors, reject or modify it. - Crop and focus: Crop to show the whole product or its packaging. Avoid extreme close-ups that hide required labels or make identification ambiguous. - File specs and metadata: Confirm resolution, color profile, file format and embedded alt text. Alt text should describe the product neutrally and include age-restriction indicators where appropriate. - Third-party endorsements: Remove logos, badges, or endorsements that imply regulatory approval unless you can verify them from authoritative sources.

## Practical review steps 1) Open image at thumbnail and full sizes; note whether warnings and brand names remain legible. 2) Compare image to product page copy: do visual claims match text? Reject images that imply claims the page does not support. 3) Run a youth-appeal filter: if any design element could attract minors, flag for replacement. 4) Log reviewer decision with rationale and source checks (e.g., packaging scan, manufacturer-supplied art).

## Jurisdictional boundary and legal note This article references public information from the U.S. FDA about labeling and warning statements for tobacco products. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and product type; a package or image alone does not establish authorization or compliance. Do not treat this checklist as legal advice or a substitute for counsel when you must determine compliance.

## Recordkeeping and escalation Keep a dated log of image reviews with reviewer initials, decision outcome, and brief rationale. Escalate unclear cases to legal or regulatory teams rather than guessing compliance status.

Further reading https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-guidance-regulations/labeling-and-warning-statements-tobacco-products