It Is Legal For Kids To Work On Tobacco Farms, But It Can Make Them Sick
Advocates say that gaps in federal regulations leave child workers vulnerable to the health risks of nicotine and pesticide exposure. Labor laws allow larger farms to hire kids as young as 12.
In the U.S., children under the age of 18 are legally barred from purchasing cigarettes or other tobacco products. But they are allowed to harvest tobacco on farms.
Despite a worldwide decline in production, tobacco remains North Carolina's most valuable crop. In 2017, the total value of tobacco produced in the state was just under $725 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs child labor, makes exceptions to child labor laws for small farms and allows hires as
