Babylon Vardex Group sues over illegal tax on ENDS.

Sep.22.2022
Babylon Vardex Group sues over illegal tax on ENDS.
Babylon Vardex Group sues Moscow court over central excise tax on liquid in electronic nicotine delivery systems.

The main distributor of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Babylon Vardex Group, has filed a lawsuit with the Moscow Arbitration Court, declaring the behavior of the Central Excise Tax (CAT) as illegal. The latter demands payment of consumption tax for the liquid contained in the ENDS.


Artem Shevelin, the chief lawyer of Babilon LLC, has explained that in addition to paying consumption taxes on equipment, customs authorities are also requiring liquid consumption taxes to be paid on immersed evaporators. The size of these requirements, which relate to goods imported between 2020 and 2022, has not been disclosed. A preliminary hearing for the claim will take place between September and October.


CAT stated that all activities involving ENDS are legal. The Ministry of Finance also pointed out that a consumption tax must be paid on the liquid used for ENDS. It does not matter whether it is sold separately or as part of a package.


Market experts add that pressure on market participants will only push them into a gray area, rendering legal businesses unprofitable for suppliers and sellers alike. However, the current situation calls for a cross-departmental meeting to discuss ways to avoid potential double taxation issues.


On August 9th, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed to advance the label test on nicotine liquids and electronic nicotine delivery systems, and to enforce mandatory labels for these products starting from November 1st, 2022.


Statement:


This article is compiled based on third-party information and is intended solely for industry communication and learning.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The article's translation is solely intended for industry-specific communication and research.


Due to the limitations of our translation abilities, the translated article may not accurately reflect the original text. Therefore, readers are advised to rely on the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS is in full alignment with the Chinese government's positions and statements on any domestic, Hong Kong and Taiwan-related, and foreign issues.


5. The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is infringement, please contact us for removal.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
The long-stalled debate over the European Union’s Tobacco Excise Directive may be moving forward, with Cyprus, as holder of the EU Council presidency, putting forward a compromise draft. The reported proposal includes lowering the minimum excise duty requirement and granting a transitional period, with the aim of reaching political agreement by June 2026. The revision also covers e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and stronger controls on raw tobacco.
Apr.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Tobacco Center Plans Faster Review Process for Certain Supplemental PMTAs
FDA Tobacco Center Plans Faster Review Process for Certain Supplemental PMTAs
FDA Center for Tobacco Products Acting Director Bret Koplow issued a statement on May 7 outlining new steps to accelerate tobacco product premarket application review. The statement said CTP reduced the backlog of applications by approximately 70% in 2025 and that there is no longer a queue for PMTAs pending acceptance review.
May.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Geneva Court Annuls Ban on Disposable E-Cigarette Sales, Says Power Lies With Federal Authorities
Geneva Court Annuls Ban on Disposable E-Cigarette Sales, Says Power Lies With Federal Authorities
The Geneva Court of Justice on Tuesday upheld appeals filed by four associations and companies active in the tobacco trade and annulled the Geneva legal provision banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, commonly known as “puffs.”
Apr.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada’s federal health minister, Majorie Michel, said she is looking into legislation that would permanently ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008. She said Canada has seen the approach recently proposed in the United Kingdom and is reviewing it with partners. Health Canada previously said the Government of Canada has invested C$66 million annually since 2018 to help Canadians quit smoking and reduce the harms of nicotine addiction.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Altria and Juul Ask Court to Pause Antitrust Case Pending Ninth Circuit Review
Altria and Juul Ask Court to Pause Antitrust Case Pending Ninth Circuit Review
Altria and Juul are asking a California federal court to pause an antitrust case while they appeal a class certification ruling to the Ninth Circuit. The case alleges that Altria’s 2018 investment in Juul, a $12.8 billion deal for a 35% stake.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Reuters Exclusive: FDA’s Fast-Track Review of Nicotine Pouches Slows Over Youth and New-User Concerns
Reuters Exclusive: FDA’s Fast-Track Review of Nicotine Pouches Slows Over Youth and New-User Concerns
Reuters reported on April 1 that several popular nicotine pouch products still have not been cleared for sale in the United States despite a fast-track review pilot run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Three sources said FDA reviewers have taken a cautious approach because of potential risks to youth and other non-tobacco users, including the possibility of driving nicotine addiction among adults who do not already smoke.
Apr.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai