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.

Product | JT Launches Three Autumn-Limited Ploom Tobacco Sticks in Japan Across EVO, MEVIUS and CAMEL Brands
Product | JT Launches Three Autumn-Limited Ploom Tobacco Sticks in Japan Across EVO, MEVIUS and CAMEL Brands
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) launched three limited-edition autumn tobacco sticks for its Ploom heated tobacco devices in Japan on October 16, 2026, under the EVO, MEVIUS and CAMEL brands. All three are regular tobacco variants with seasonal packaging. Each pack contains 20 sticks, priced at ¥620, ¥590 and ¥570, respectively, including tax. The products are compatible with all Ploom devices and are sold in limited quantities exclusively through the CLUB JT online store while supplies last.
product
Oct.20
Germany Probes 7.6 Million Illegal Vape Case With Estimated €33.3 Million Tax Loss; Four Chinese Manufacturer Employees Under Investigation, Some Packaging in Enforcement Images Resembles FUMOT Products
Germany Probes 7.6 Million Illegal Vape Case With Estimated €33.3 Million Tax Loss; Four Chinese Manufacturer Employees Under Investigation, Some Packaging in Enforcement Images Resembles FUMOT Products
German prosecutors and customs authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into an alleged cross-border organised vape network. Authorities say that between January 2024 and March 2025, four employees of an unnamed Chinese e-cigarette manufacturer allegedly built a network of sales agents and wholesalers that brought more than 7.6 million nicotine disposable vapes into Germany, causing an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses. The manufacturer has not been named. Some products visible in enforcement images have packaging resembling products from FUMOT’s portfolio. European regulatory records from 2024, FUMOT’s public overseas-sales materials and records involving German vape importer and distribution company Zamu-Pro GmbH also show FUMOT/RandM products and German distribution activity during the period covered by the investigation.
Sep.21
Wisconsin Vape Directory One Year On: Retailer Reports Four Store Closures and 70% Staff Cuts
Wisconsin Vape Directory One Year On: Retailer Reports Four Store Closures and 70% Staff Cuts
Wisconsin's electronic vaping device directory has been fully enforced for more than a year, and local vape retailers say the reduced range of eligible products has contributed to declining sales, store closures and layoffs. Johnny Vapes owner Ben Hall said he has closed four of seven locations and cut about 70% of his staff. State law bars the sale of vaping devices not listed on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue directory and allows penalties of $1,000 per day for each unlisted device sold or offered for sale. In April 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit allowed enforcement of the law to continue.
Regulations
Oct.10
JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
Private antitrust litigation stemming from Altria's 2018 $12.8 billion investment for a 35% economic interest in JUUL is advancing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Direct purchasers, indirect purchasers and indirect resellers of JUUL products filed answering briefs this week seeking to preserve class certifications granted by a California federal court in February. Altria and JUUL argue that individual consumers and large distributors differ too much in purchasing terms to remain in a single direct-purchaser class, while a separate dispute concerns whether California antitrust law can apply to indirect purchasers across 27 jurisdictions. A September trial has been put on hold during the appeal.
Sep.23
India Steps Up Nicotine Pouch Enforcement as ZYN, White Fox Circulate and Drug Panel Urges Halt to New Nicotine Formulations
India Steps Up Nicotine Pouch Enforcement as ZYN, White Fox Circulate and Drug Panel Urges Halt to New Nicotine Formulations
India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed states to step up enforcement against nicotine pouch sales, citing increased availability through online and offline channels and concern about nicotine exposure among children. Reuters reported that international brands including ZYN and White Fox are being sold in India. A study led by ICMR-NICPR found pouches in seven of 10 surveyed locations and identified 68 brands and 445 flavors online. Separately, India's Drugs Technical Advisory Board recommended in August that no new nicotine formulation be approved.
Regulations
Sep.28 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Product | PMI Launches ZYN Melts in UK, Extending ZYN Beyond Nicotine Pouches Into Dissolvable Tablets
Product | PMI Launches ZYN Melts in UK, Extending ZYN Beyond Nicotine Pouches Into Dissolvable Tablets
Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched ZYN Melts in the UK, introducing a fully dissolvable oral nicotine tablet format alongside the brand's existing nicotine pouches. The range includes Cool Mint and Peppermint, each offered at 1mg and 2mg of nicotine per tablet, creating four SKUs. Each can contains 20 tablets and is priced at £6.50 in the UK. Unlike ZYN nicotine pouches, Melts are placed between the upper lip and gum and dissolve completely during use.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives