Promoting Genuine Tobacco Products in Russia

Nov.22.2022
Promoting Genuine Tobacco Products in Russia
Alexei Sinitsyn, deputy chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council, called for the elimination of counterfeit tobacco products.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, Alexei Sinitsyn. Photo source: ВМЕСТЕ РФ.


In a news report from Federal Information Channel, Alexei Sinitsyn, the first deputy chairman of the Federal Committee's Economic Policy Committee, pointed out at a roundtable discussion specifically focused on the tobacco industry that counterfeit products must be eliminated from the domestic tobacco market.


According to him, despite various efforts made by the nation, the pace at which Russians quit smoking remains slow. Data from Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service) shows that over 20% of Russian adults smoke, a figure which has remained unchanged for several years. Increasing prices will only make cigarettes more affordable.


The government's role is to establish regulations that will help to standardize the industry, or at least prevent it from entering a massive grey area. The industry's general issues have been repeatedly discussed in various locations, with the main problem being a significant difference in consumption tax rates between Russia and neighboring EAEU countries. SenatInformSinitsyn stated that the government has taken measures to address this issue, but many sectors of the Russian economy, including tobacco, are experiencing significant changes related to unfriendly countries' sanction policies this year.


According to data from Rosstat, the production of legal cigarettes decreased by over 17% in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, the percentage of counterfeit cigarettes is on the rise. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, over 12% of cigarettes in the country are now counterfeit, up from 11.5% a year ago. The resulting budget loss is estimated at 70 billion rubles, or roughly 8.2 billion yuan.


Statement:


This article compiles information from a third-party source and is intended for internal industry exchange and learning only.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of the article. The compilation of this article is solely for communication and research within the industry.


Due to limitations in translation ability, the article translation may not fully reflect the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS is fully aligned with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan-related, and foreign statements and positions.


Copyright of compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.



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.

UK Reform Party Proposes Cap of 1,000 Vape Shops Under Plan to Tighten Retail Controls
UK Reform Party Proposes Cap of 1,000 Vape Shops Under Plan to Tighten Retail Controls
The UK Reform Party has proposed limiting the number of dedicated vape shops in the country to around 1,000 as part of a plan to tighten oversight of vape retail channels. The proposal was put forward by Reform UK deputy leader and MP Lee Anderson. The plan remains a political proposal and has not become UK government policy, with no detailed legislation, implementation timeline or allocation rules announced.
Aug.10
Ireland’s Vape Tax Raises €22 Million in Nine Months as Government Considers 2027 Budget Changes
Ireland’s Vape Tax Raises €22 Million in Nine Months as Government Considers 2027 Budget Changes
According to Irish media outlets Highland Radio and BreakingNews.ie, the Irish government is considering whether to adjust vape tax policy in the 2027 Budget. The tax has generated about €22 million ($24 million) in revenue during its first nine months. While no increase has been confirmed, the revenue performance could influence future fiscal discussions. Any tax rise could increase product costs and potentially affect retail prices.
Aug.12
Research | Swedish Study Finds Oral Lesions in 79% of Examined Nicotine Pouch Users, With Distinct Tissue Responses
Research | Swedish Study Finds Oral Lesions in 79% of Examined Nicotine Pouch Users, With Distinct Tissue Responses
A new Swedish study found oral mucosal lesions in 79% of examined nicotine pouch users and 89% of tobacco-derived snus users, with different tissue-response patterns between the two categories. For manufacturers and regulators, the findings shift attention toward product formulation, flavouring, pouch materials and local oral exposure, not only whether a product contains tobacco. The study found no higher prevalence of caries or periodontal disease, but it could not establish causality, long-term outcomes or differences between individual products or designs.
Special Report
Jul.27
Product | PMI Pilots bonds by IQOS and blends in Japan, Testing a New Heated Tobacco Platform
Product | PMI Pilots bonds by IQOS and blends in Japan, Testing a New Heated Tobacco Platform
Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched a regional pilot of bonds by IQOS and dedicated blends tobacco sticks in Japan, introducing a new heated tobacco platform separate from the IQOS ILUMA ecosystem. The system uses Round Heat Technology with an external heating architecture, differentiating it from IQOS ILUMA’s induction-based platform. The pilot began on July 6, 2026, across three Japanese prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki.
Jul.30
 $20 Million, a Permanent Injunction and Distributor Controls: Posh Deal Tightens Illinois Vape Compliance
$20 Million, a Permanent Injunction and Distributor Controls: Posh Deal Tightens Illinois Vape Compliance
An Illinois court ordered three companies tied to Posh vapes to pay $20 million and permanently restricted the sale, marketing and distribution in Illinois of products lacking required FDA authorization. The consent order also imposes downstream distributor controls, age-verification measures and social-media marketing limits, creating a new state-level compliance benchmark for disposable vape businesses.
Regulations
Aug.05
Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
China-based Hunan China Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Baisha Technology Co., Ltd. have filed a patent application covering an adult-user identification mechanism for heated tobacco devices. The patent proposes using flexible pressure sensors installed in the device grip area to collect pressure distribution patterns generated when users hold the device. The system evaluates factors including effective contact area, grip shape and contact duration, and combines roller movement detection to determine whether unlocking conditions are met. The filing reflects exploration of device-level user recognition and smarter interaction technologies for heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Aug.05