Market & regulatory data for the vapour sector in Russia

24th March 2023: Russia: Yesterday in the State Duma (lower house), prime minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the government is considering banning e-cigarettes. No proposals have been submitted yet, but the house chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, asked the executive to consider it.
10th March 2023: Russia: Yesterday, a bill on the state regulation of production and circulation of tobacco and nicotine-containing products was approved by the Russian government, and was sent to the State Duma (lower chamber of the parliament). The proposed bill would introduce, among other things, state licensing of production and storage, import and export of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including raw materials. The bill would also establish mandatory state registration for the main technological equipment used for the production of these products. It is also expected that the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation (Rosalkogolregulirovanie) would be given control over such products.
9th March 2023: Russia: The government agenda for today includes a discussion on a proposal concerning the production, licensing and packaging requirements for tobacco and nicotine products. There are currently no specific notification and packaging restrictions for e-cigarettes. Detailed analysis will be provided following the publication of the proposal.
3rd March 2023: Russia: Bill 204240-8, amending Federal Law No. 15-FZ on “health protection from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco consumption”, has passed through its first reading in the State Duma (lower chamber of the parliament). The bill would establish nationwide restrictions on the volume of e-liquids without traceability marking that individuals can transport. Under the bill, no more than 50 ml of e-liquid without marking per person would be permitted to be transported. The bill aims to fight the growth of the illicit market created by the influx of cheaper products entering Russia from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries due to the lack of customs borders, media reports.
1st March 2023: Russia: From today, 1st March, the tax on e-liquids will rise to RUB20 (€0.25) per ml. The rate will go up again next year to RUB21 (€0.26) per ml, and in 2025 to RUB22 (€0.27) per ml.
20th February 2023: Russia: The Ministry of Finance is planning to create a federal law enforcement agency that would be responsible for the tobacco and nicotine product markets, media reports. According to the ministry, the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation (Rosalkogolregulirovanie) will be given the authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products. The agency will also be tasked with ensuring compliance with the labelling and packaging rules for tobacco products. The proposed legislative initiative will be submitted to the State Duma (lower chamber of parliament) for consideration by late February or early March.
16th February 2023: Russia: The Ministry of Agriculture has drafted a bill, with the backing of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to block websites selling tobacco and nicotine products. Online sales of e-cigarettes are prohibited by federal law. The ministry told media the bill would amend Federal Law 149-FZ on information technology.
14th February 2023: Russia: The State Duma Committee on Youth Policy is preparing a set of proposals to tackle e-cigarettes, according to its chairman, Artem Metelev. He said one of the proposals would be for age restrictions on the purchasing of vaping-related products.
14th February 2023: Russia: The lower chamber of the parliament, the State Duma, is discussing possible measures to regulate the sale of tobacco products, including the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes, press reports. Deputy Biysultan Khamzayev of the governing United Russia party said packets of all brands would have to be in plain green, with the brand name only “in the mandatory size and font” and a health warning statement in accordance with the law. There was no mention in the debate of e-cigarette packaging.
10th February 2023: Russia: State Duma deputy Sultan Khamzaev has proposed banning tobacco product sales in fuel stations, media reports. Khamzaev addressed the appeal to the head of the Ministry of Health, Mikhail Murashko. Whether the proposed action would apply to the sale of vaping products is unclear.
7th February 2023: Russia: Alexei Kurinny, deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection, has said he does not support a complete ban on e-cigarettes, arguing that it would send vapers back to smoking, media reports. Health minister Mikhail Murashko said last week that the ministry backed the initiative of State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to ban e-сigs.

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