Russia Passes Proposal Banning Flavored E-cigarettes and More

On April 11th, the Russian State Duma passed a proposal aimed at amending certain legislative regulations within the Russian Federation. The proposal includes provisions such as a ban on flavored additives in e-cigarettes, a ban on online sales of e-cigarettes, a ban on public display of e-cigarettes in brick-and-mortar stores, and the implementation of a minimum retail price for e-cigarette products.

On April 13th, 2FIRSTS hosted an online seminar titled "Understanding the Russian Ban on E-Cigarette Additives Proposal". The seminar invited a number of experts to speak on the topic.

The Chairman of a professional alliance of market participants in Russia, Lev Grigoriev, who is also a member of the Russian Federation Council and an expert on tobacco and nicotine product market competition, along with Igor Samborskiy, CEO of Babylon - one of the largest compliant distributors in Russia, were joined by two authoritative experts in the Russian e-cigarette industry to provide a detailed explanation of the proposal.

Here's a summary of the Q&A session on the "flavor ban" in 2FIRSTS' live broadcast:

Question:

Does the ban on flavoring additives equate to a ban on taste? Will the government issue a list of flavoring additives? When will this list be released?

Lev Grigoriev responded:

The government is planning to impose a ban on certain food additives, but the specifics have not yet been determined. This announcement is part of the government's effort to establish its authority in enforcing the ban and it has prepared relevant legislation to ensure it has the power to execute the ban on September 1st.

However, this date (September 1) is also uncertain and may be delayed further. In addition, this bill will only be put into action after President Putin signed it and a special working group is established to push for its implementation. The health care department will also participate in the development of this bill.

We are also advocating for the maximum retention of some food additives, and we hope that experts and researchers will strive to keep these additives on the list, ensuring that only those harmful to the body are included.

In the following analysis, we will explore the government's enforcement efforts, their impact on dealerships, and the next steps for legislative reforms. Stay tuned.

Special statement: This interpretation does not represent official government statements. Relevant laws will be determined by government departments and the legal system.

Expert Analysis Series:

Expert analysis 1: Ban on flavored e-cigarettes in Russia applies to all products; specific regulations on additives yet to be revealed.

Expert analysis 2: Russia sets minimum retail prices for e-cigarette products to reduce demand for nicotine products.

Expert analysis 3: Russia proposes electronic cigarette ban on online sales and offline display, effective from June 1st.

Topic: Progress of the Russian Ban on E-cigarette Flavors and Expert Interpretation (click the image below to jump to the article)

Related Reading:

What is the current status of the ban on flavored products in Russia's legislative process?

In one day, the Russian flavor ban was passed through three readings of the bill. Here is a timeline and background information on the ban.

[3] The ban on flavoring additives in electronic cigarettes in Russia will come into effect on September 1. See the full proposal attached. [4] On April 11, Russia will hold its first discussion regarding the proposal to ban flavored electronic cigarettes.

Russia proposes a maximum fine of 500,000 rubles for selling e-cigarettes to minors.

Russian Prime Minister Mishustin is reportedly considering a ban on electronic cigarettes.