Russia tightens e-cigarette regulations with new proposal

On the evening of April 11th Beijing time, the 2FIRSTS Moscow News Center learned from the Russian State Duma that a proposal to amend certain legislative regulations in the Russian Federation has been passed. The proposal aims to tighten regulation of electronic cigarettes in Russia, including banning the addition of flavorings to electronic cigarettes and addressing the issue of underage use of electronic cigarettes.

2FIRSTS has provided a timeline analysis of legislative amendment.

On April 7th, 2023, according to the Moscow Youth Communist League newspaper, it was reported that a draft proposal to tighten regulations on electronic cigarettes had been submitted to the Russian State Duma. On April 10th, 2023, the proposal was sent to the legislative committee of the State Duma for review. On April 11th, the bill was passed by the State Duma with 408 votes in favor, 0 against, and 1 abstention. On the same day, the proposal went through the first, second, and third readings in the State Duma.

According to Liang Jiasen, a knowledgeable source on the legislative process in Russia, it is quite rare in the history of the Russian federal legislature to have a proposal pass all three readings on the same day.

Background of Legislative Revision

The legal modifications concerning electronic cigarettes were not made without warning.

Previously reported by 2FIRSTS, on March 23rd, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced during a legislative session in the State Duma that he would consider a proposal from the Speaker of the House and representatives to ban electronic cigarettes.

Representatives proposed a ban on electronic cigarettes, possibly due to three incidents of minors dying or suffering severe injuries after consuming illegal electronic cigarettes since February of this year in Russia.

During the meeting, Valentina Matviyenko, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, requested that the committees on health, propaganda, and youth affairs prioritize the study of e-cigarette usage and proposed the feasibility of banning them. Upon reading the bill's original text, it was discovered that Matviyenko was the proposer of this amendment.

Russia's current law "On protecting citizens from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, tobacco consumption, or the effects of consuming nicotine products" applies to all products containing nicotine, including e-cigarettes and hookah. It is prohibited to use these products in public places and to sell them to minors.

On April 10th, the Russian State Duma's Committee on State Building and Legislation proposed amendments to increase fines for selling tobacco products, hookahs, and nicotine-containing consumption devices to minors. The proposal was put forward for the parliament's approval.

The proposed amendment suggests fines ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles for citizens, 100,000 to 200,000 rubles for officials, and 300,000 to 500,000 rubles for corporate entities.

Topic: Updates on the Ban of Flavored E-cigarettes in Russia and Expert Interpretations (click on the image below for direct access)

Further reading:

[1] The ban on flavor additives in electronic cigarettes in Russia will come into effect on September 1st. The full proposal is attached. [2] Russia has proposed a ban on flavored electronic cigarettes, with its first discussion scheduled for April 11th.

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

Russian Prime Minister Mishustin considers banning e-cigarettes.