Problem of Illicit Tobacco and Nicotine Products in Russia

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai

Feb.02.2024

Problem of Illicit Tobacco and Nicotine Products in Russia

According to Russian media, the majority of Russia's tobacco market still operates on the black market, with only a fraction being legal.

According to a report from the Russian media outlet Business Online on February 1, Artem Kiryanov, Deputy Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the Russian State Duma, revealed during a press conference that a significant portion of the tobacco and nicotine-containing products market in Russia still operates in the black market. The legal circulation of these products accounts for less than one-third of the total domestic sales.

Kiryanov further added that nowadays consumers can identify legitimate products through the Data Matrix label on the product and the information provided by the "Honesty Mark" system.

When asked about the handling of e-cigarette products, Kiryanov stated that the Duma is currently debating whether to ban or regulate them.

He explained, "We choose to regulate the product so that we can understand the current situation and effectively combat illegal sales. If banned, the entire market will be pushed into the black market. This will result in a significant increase in the proportion of e-cigarette orders through the internet, from the current 5% to 95%. This will blur the line between e-cigarette consumption and the distribution network of illicit drugs. At this point, we must be clear that this is a situation that the Russian Federation cannot tolerate.

References:

[1] Госдума: Легальный табак составляет лишь треть всего рынка

Also Read:

[1] Proposed Ban on Nicotine Products in Russia Faces Opposition

[2] Proposed Legislation: Fines Imposed for Smoking in Public and in Media

[3] China's E-Cigarette Exports to Russia Soar in December 2023

[4] Russia's New Law Digitizes Tobacco Tax Stamps and Labels

#Europe #Legislation #E-cigarettes #Products #Russia #Nicotine e-cigarettes #Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes #Product

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Malaysia’s vape industry flags “policy U-turn” concerns after ban on refillable open-system e-cigarettes

Malaysia’s vape industry has raised concerns over the government’s decision to ban refillable open-system e-cigarettes, describing it as a policy reversal despite earlier regulatory approvals.

Jan.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Scandinavian Tobacco Group Reports Q3 2025 Results and Narrows Full-Year Guidance

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) reported net sales of DKK 2.4 billion for Q3 2025, in line with last year. EBITDA before special items reached DKK 519 million with a 22.0% margin. Handmade Cigars and Next Generation Products saw organic growth, while Machine-Rolled Cigars and Smoking Tobacco declined. The company narrowed its full-year guidance.

Nov.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Mexico’s ENCODAT 2025 finds smoking rate falls as vaping rises

Results from Mexico’s ENCODAT 2025 indicate a structural shift in tobacco and nicotine use: past-month combustible tobacco use among the general population (ages 12–65) declined to 15.1%, down from 17.6% in 2016, while past-month e-cigarette use increased to 2.6%, up from 1.1%.

Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai

UPC Court of Appeal refuses to revive VMR’s European vape patent, upholding lack of inventiveness

The Unified Patent Court’s Court of Appeal declined on Dec. 29 to revive a European patent held by VMR Products LLC, upholding a finding that the patent is not inventive over earlier devices. The decision said adding a window in the vape’s outer shell to reveal the internal cartridge holding vape liquid was an obvious, routine adaptation based on an earlier U.S. patent and general knowledge.