E-cigarettes in Russia

Russia: Sholban Kara-ool, deputy speaker of the State Duma, from the governing United Russia faction, has told the Tass news agency that a ban on e-cigarettes would not work. He said what was needed was public recognition of the harmfulness of substances contained in vapour products.

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU): The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission decided last week to introduce traceability marking for e-cigarettes throughout the EAEU. The five member states – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia – will reportedly determine individually their own procedure and enforcement dates.

Russia: A bill introducing a combined excise tax for disposable e-cigarettes and the e-liquid contained in them came through its first reading in the State Duma yesterday. It would set an initial rate of RUB62 ($1.03) per device plus RUB17 ($0.28) per ml of e-liquid, to rise over the next few years. If adopted, it will come into force three months after its official publication. However, deputy finance minister Alexei Sazanov reportedly told the State Duma Budget Committee that the bill needed to be modified, eliminating the tax on the device, leaving a tax only on the liquid, which should apply to both disposable and reusable e-cigs. Currently, both e-cig devices and e-liquids are subject to excise tax; however, under the principle of one-time taxation, disposables are taxed only at the devices rate.

Russia: Yaroslav Nilov, head of the State Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy, has drawn attention to online selling of e-cigarettes to minors, media reports. Nilov has reportedly asked the prosecutor’s office to check on online stores and their compliance with the law.

Russia: The Ministry of Industry and Trade has published a draft decree which would make the digital traceability marking of e-cigarettes and e-liquids mandatory ahead of schedule from 1st November. Under the currently operative government decree, the voluntary experiment with traceability marking should last until 28th February 2023.

Russia: The bill setting future tax rates has been adopted and published, increasing excise rates for e-liquids and e-cigarette devices in 2025 by 4%. Devices will be taxed at RUB 70 (€1.20), and e-liquids at RUB 20 (€0.34) per ml. 

Russia: The State Duma Budget and Taxes Committee has backed a government amendment which would increase excise rates on e-cigarette devices and e-liquids by 4% in 2025, media reports. If the bill is adopted, e-cig devices will be taxed at a rate of RUB70 ($1.38) and e-liquids at RUB20 ($0.39) per ml.

Russia: The bill on regulating the production and circulation of tobacco products has been submitted to the Russian government, media reports. Reportedly, the document would provide for licensing activities in the production and import of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, among other things. However, no further details have been circulated.