Russia Considers Tightening Regulations on E-Cigarette Sales

Apr.26.2023
Russia Considers Tightening Regulations on E-Cigarette Sales
Russia's Ministry of Health supports tightening laws on e-cigarette sales to minors and banning flavor additives.

On April 25th, according to a report by TASS, Russia's Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Salagay has backed stricter laws governing the sale of electronic cigarettes. This includes a ban on the sale of all types of e-cigarettes, including those without nicotine, to minors as well as a ban on flavor additives in e-cigarettes.


The Ministry of Health supports a ban on selling electronic cigarettes to minors.


Sarah Gai, speaking at the federal committee on social policy, emphasized two points. Firstly, these products have rapidly gained popularity worldwide, mainly due to their taste, appeal, and technology, while often harming young people and minors. Therefore, the proposed law has received support, representing a significant step forward in this direction.


He emphasized that after the law is passed, the government will have the authority to approve a list of substances that "increase the appeal of electronic cigarettes.


A new regulation has been implemented that prohibits the sale of e-cigarette oils that contain flavoring agents or increased addictive properties of nicotine (including oils that are nicotine-free) as well as substances that enhance the appeal of these products.


The list of additives and substances will be determined by the Russian government. The ban and the authority to determine the list of additives by the government will take effect on September 1, 2023.


These corresponding modifications will be written into the law that aims to protect citizens from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and the effects of smoking or using nicotine-containing products.


The law also defines nicotine-free e-liquid as "any e-liquid that contains no nicotine or contains nicotine at a concentration of less than 0.1 milligrams per milliliter, which is used in devices meant for inhaling nicotine-containing products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes).


On April 26, the Russian law regulating the sale of electronic cigarettes will be submitted for review to the federal commission. If the bill is passed by the commission, it will be sent to the Russian presidential administration for the president's approval. If the president finds the law to be in accordance with national regulations, he will sign it into law. If the bill is not vetoed after being signed, it will be published in the government's official bulletin and become effective within 10 days of that announcement.


It is noteworthy that if the president vetoes the bill, the State Duma can resubmit it by amending the draft.


Expanding Read: Composition and Powers of the Federal Council of Russia


According to sources, the Russian Federation Council consists of a total of 208 members, of which 178 are representatives from the various regions of Russia (with each of the 89 regions sending two representatives), while the remaining 30 members are appointed by the President of the Russian Federation.


In the legislative field, the Federal Council is subordinate to the State Duma. Any law must first be submitted to the State Duma, and can only be reviewed by the Federal Council after it has been approved by the State Duma.


When the laws passed by the State Duma are under consideration, the Federal Council has no authority to modify them, but can approve or reject the entire law. A federal law receives approval if more than half of all members of parliament vote in favor or if the Federal Council does not deliberate on it within fourteen days. In such cases, the law is considered passed by the Federal Council.


If a federal law is vetoed by the federal commission, the House of Representatives can establish a mediation committee to resolve any disagreements that have arisen. Afterwards, the federal law will be reviewed again by the national Duma.


If the State Duma disagrees with the decision of the Federal Assembly, then in the second vote, at least two-thirds of the total number of State Duma representatives must vote in favor of the federal law for it to be considered passed.


2FIRSTS will continue to monitor progress on the bill. Stay tuned for updates.


Related reading:


1. "2FIRSTS Market Research: Only White Marketed and Forced Transformation - What is the State of the Russian E-Cigarette Market under Strong Regulatory Signals?" 2. "Exclusive Interview with Russian Nicotine Producer: Compliant Regulatory Trends are Irreversible, Comprehensive Ban on E-Cigarettes is Not Possible.


Experts interpret Russia's tobacco industry "mandatory license" with attached legal text.


Russian "Honest Label" Operational Company Responds to "Additive Ban" Proposal: Electronic Cigarettes Still Subject to Mandatory Labeling Constraints.


The deadline for "honest labeling" approaches, as the Russian market for disposable e-cigarettes is busy liquidating stock.


Topic: Updates on Russia's ban on flavored electronic cigarettes and expert insights (click on the image below to be redirected)


Reference:


The Ministry of Health supports the law prohibiting the sale of all vapes to minors.



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.

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
Major U.S.  Vape Distributor Demand Vape Pays at Least $300,000 for White House Lobbying Amid Enforcement Pressure
Major U.S. Vape Distributor Demand Vape Pays at Least $300,000 for White House Lobbying Amid Enforcement Pressure
New York vape distributor Ecto World, which operates as Demand Vape, hired political consultant Roger Stone to lobby the Executive Office of the President on regulation of vaping and related products while facing state enforcement and multiple lawsuits. Public lobbying disclosures show that Ecto World paid at least $300,000 for the work through June 30, 2026. Separately, New York State announced in March that more than 28,500 pounds of vaping products tied to the company had been seized, while New York City and the state have pursued legal or enforcement actions. Public records do not show that the lobbying directly changed any specific regulatory or enforcement outcome.
Sep.08
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
The UK's Vaping Products Duty will take effect on October 1, 2026, at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid. Ahead of implementation, DOJO, PIXL and Hayati have introduced or been reported to be adding lower-capacity tiers alongside larger products. DOJO has added a 6ml BLAST7K Fresh below its 10ml BLAST10K Fresh, PIXL offers both a 12ml 8000 and a 6ml 5K, while retailer Ninja Vapes says Hayati is preparing a 7ml 4K alongside its existing 12ml 6K. The pattern points to a growing lower-capacity tier in the UK market, although the brands have not all explicitly linked the changes to the new duty.
Sep.23
FDA Grants PMTA Authorization to 11 ZYN ULTRA Nicotine Pouches, Bringing Total Authorized Pouches to 43
FDA Grants PMTA Authorization to 11 ZYN ULTRA Nicotine Pouches, Bringing Total Authorized Pouches to 43
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized 11 ZYN ULTRA nicotine pouch products made by Swedish Match USA through the premarket tobacco product application pathway on August 21, 2026. Ten of the authorized products have a labeled nicotine content of 9 mg, while ZYN ULTRA Smooth was authorized at 11 mg. The reviews were conducted through FDA’s nicotine pouch PMTA pilot program. FDA has now authorized 43 nicotine pouch products, including 23 through the pilot.
Aug.24
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
A U.S. Government Accountability Office audit found that 131,915 tobacco product applications submitted to the FDA since 2018 remained without a final review as of December 31, 2025, with pending applications waiting an average of 1,266 days. GAO also found FDA lacks the data needed to systematically determine whether scientific reviews meet applicable timelines. HHS agreed to upgrade the agency's tracking systems. At the same time, FDA has begun applying lessons from its nicotine pouch PMTA pilot to e-cigarette reviews, while changes to enforcement policy and electronic submissions are making the specific stage of a PMTA increasingly relevant to market access.
FDA
Oct.03
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
DOJO officially launched the BLAST7K Fresh on September 17, 2026, introducing a UK-market prefilled pod product with 6ml of e-liquid and a manufacturer-rated capacity of up to 7,000 puffs. The device features a 1000mAh rechargeable battery, the INSTA-JUICED structure and COREX BLAST dual-mesh technology, while retaining compatibility with existing BLAST pods. The launch comes less than two weeks before the UK's Vaping Products Duty takes effect on October 1. At the new duty rate, 6ml of vaping liquid would correspond to £1.32 in VPD. DOJO has not stated that the product's 6ml format was designed in response to the new duty.
Sep.20