Impact of New E-cigarette Regulations on Russian Retail Market

Aug.28.2023
Impact of New E-cigarette Regulations on Russian Retail Market
Russia's new e-cigarette regulations, including flavor bans and minimum pricing, will take effect on September 1st. How will these policies impact the country's retail market?

A series of e-cigarette related policies will officially come into effect in Russia on September 1st, including a ban on flavor additives, the implementation of a licensing system for e-cigarettes, and the enforcement of government regulations setting a minimum price for e-cigarettes.


How will these comprehensive policies affect the e-cigarette retail market in Russia? Are e-cigarette retailers prepared? On August 25th, the staff of 2FIRSTS Moscow News Center visited more than 10 e-cigarette stores in Moscow to gain an in-depth understanding of the e-cigarette retail market in Russia.


Interviewed retail employees unanimously stated that while they had heard about the forthcoming e-cigarette regulations, they lacked specific knowledge about the details.


In an interview with 2FIRSTS, all store owners stated that they currently have no specific stockpiling plans and continue to make purchases based on their usual procurement patterns. They are still acquiring popular products in larger quantities based on past sales records, and procuring as needed. The impending regulations have not prompted any changes in their purchasing methods.


When asked about the new law set to come into effect on September 1st, most of the employees explained that law enforcement in Russia is not typically stringent. They believe regulatory authorities may not inspect the retail sector too frequently, which implies that the implementation of the law may have a limited impact on the retail end.


Moreover, 2FIRSTS has also noticed that despite the regulation imposed by Russia on June 1st to prohibit the public display of e-cigarettes, 30% to 40% of e-cigarette retail stores are still not covering or hiding their products.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the FDA’s denial of MH Global LLC’s applications to market flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The court ruled that FDA’s comparative-efficacy framework, which requires applicants to show that flavored products provide greater cessation or switching benefits than tobacco-flavored alternatives, is consistent with the Tobacco Control Act’s “appropriate for the protection of the public health” standard. The court also found that FDA was not required to establish the framework through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
Aug.26
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will take effect on October 1, 2026. All vaping liquids manufactured in or imported into the UK will face a flat excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml, whether or not they contain nicotine. Newly manufactured or imported products released onto the UK market from October 1 will require a valid duty stamp, while eligible existing unstamped inventory can continue to be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, all vaping products outside duty suspension must carry a valid stamp.
Sep.03
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has begun selling four flavored Vuse Pro pods — Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint — in Ohio and selected other U.S. markets. According to the Vuse U.S. FAQ, Vuse Pro contains approximately 5.0% nicotine by weight, and Vuse Pro pre-filled pods are intended for use with Vuse Alto devices. Reynolds told 2Firsts that product labeling lists an e-liquid capacity of 2.0 mL per pod. The Vuse Alto Power Unit received FDA marketing authorization in 2024, while the new Vuse Pro pods themselves have not received marketing granted orders. The rollout follows the FDA’s May 2026 revision of enforcement priorities for certain unauthorized vaping products with qualifying pending applications.
BAT
Sep.10
From Product Innovation to Integrated Solutions: NEXTECH Expands Its Global Heated Tobacco Solutions
From Product Innovation to Integrated Solutions: NEXTECH Expands Its Global Heated Tobacco Solutions
NEXTECH launched its NEXE Pro circumferential-heating tobacco stick globally at InterTabac 2026, as the company expands from product innovation into broader heated tobacco solutions. Amid intensifying competition across global HTP markets, NEXTECH is strengthening its R&D, manufacturing and pre-launch support capabilities to serve different types of business customers.
Industry Insight
Sep.15
Swedish-Founded Nicotine Pouch Retailer GotPouches Shifts to U.S.-Based Operations, Reaching Over 25 States
Swedish-Founded Nicotine Pouch Retailer GotPouches Shifts to U.S.-Based Operations, Reaching Over 25 States
Swedish-founded online nicotine pouch retailer GotPouches has completed the localization of its U.S. operations under UpNorth Retail LLC, with corporate operations in Franklin, Tennessee, domestic fulfillment from Nashville and U.S.-based customer support. The company says its catalog covers more than 20 nicotine pouch brands and it currently serves customers in more than 25 U.S. states.
Sep.18
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
Philip Morris International's PMI Business Solutions Philippines has expanded its global business services hub in Makati and plans to add more than 80 positions. Established in 2021 primarily to provide finance and IT support to about 20 markets, the center now employs 519 professionals delivering roughly 600 services across 160 markets. Its functions now span finance, human resources, IT, commercial operations, data analytics, supply chain and project management. PMI says the hub's next phase will focus on AI-enabled and higher-value work. The company did not disclose the size or investment cost of the expansion.
Sep.24