Russia to Mandate Electronic Cigarette Labeling on December 15th

Dec.02.2022
Russia to Mandate Electronic Cigarette Labeling on December 15th
Russia to introduce mandatory labeling for e-cigarette liquids from December 15th to tackle illegal market. Possible price increase expected.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced that the mandatory labeling of e-cigarette liquids, originally scheduled for November 1, will now begin on December 15.

 

Labels are required for e-cigarette cartridges, pods, and liquid, which are part of disposable e-cigarettes. Labeling measures are necessary because currently 95% of the e-cigarette liquid market is illegal.

 

Maxim Korolev, a member of the board of directors of the professional alliance for participants in the electronic cigarette market in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, emphasized the legal position, stating that they had successfully conducted label experiments at the beginning of 2022. He stated that all of these had been tested and resolved, and that manufacturers had proposed expediting the introduction of these standards to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The main issue in the electronic cigarette market, according to Korolev, is the prevalence of illegal products making it difficult for legitimate businesses to operate amidst high taxation rates. Discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of further substantial increases.

 

To put it concretely, the introduction of labels does not affect the final price, but it may have a serious impact on reducing the share of illegal markets. In this case, prices will naturally rise, but not because the products themselves become more expensive, but because the tax-free share decreases.

 

If we only talk about importers and manufacturers and ignore retail delays, the quality of the market will not improve drastically. Additionally, if labeling becomes mandatory for retailers, prices will increase even more significantly, and there are two reasons for this.

 

Firstly, all levels of trade are starting to incur new costs. Secondly, some individual players who may be engaging in illegal online activity may also exit the market, resulting in fewer retail outlets and naturally causing prices to rise. All levels of trade are starting to incur new costs.

 

Experts have stated that the introduction of mandatory liquid labels could lead to a doubling of prices for e-cigarettes. This assessment was conducted as an initial study of the e-cigarette consumption market.

 

2FIRSTS will continue to follow this topic and update it on the "2FIRSTSAPP". Scan the QR code below to download the app.

 


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.

IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech launched IKE 2.0 on September 28, initially targeting nicotine products with a platform that combines user identity verification, product authentication, configurable policy controls and data analytics. Products can be authenticated through direct device integration or NFC smart tags. IKE Tech was formed with participation from Ispire's Aspire North America, Berify and Chemular, with Ispire currently holding a 40% interest. Its age-verification component PMTA was accepted by the FDA in 2025 and remains under review. The company did not disclose customer names, commercial deployment volumes, pricing or revenue tied to IKE 2.0.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has placed nicotine pouches under mandatory product certification through Department Administrative Order No. 26-07, Series of 2026. Nicotine pouches must obtain a Philippine Standard, or PS, license before they can be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed or sold in the country. The regime requires testing for nicotine content, pH and water activity, while packaging must disclose nicotine strength, ingredients, allergens, batch information, the PS certification mark and prescribed health warnings. Existing market participants have a 12-month transition period to comply.
Regulations
Oct.12
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Japan Tobacco (JT) will expand EVO Cacao Mint Crystal from limited channels to nationwide retail in Japan from October 6, 2026. The Ploom tobacco stick ranked first in the brand's first consumer voting campaign for new tobacco-stick SKUs held earlier this year. JT will also introduce a limited 22-stick pack at the same JPY 620 price as the standard 20-stick pack. The capsule-format product combines menthol with sweet, bittersweet cacao notes and adds a berry nuance when the capsule is crushed.
Sep.09
Ukraine Raises Excise Stamp Fees for Tobacco, Heated Tobacco and Vape Liquids by 30.5% as Parliament Backs E-Excise Delay to 2027
Ukraine Raises Excise Stamp Fees for Tobacco, Heated Tobacco and Vape Liquids by 30.5% as Parliament Backs E-Excise Delay to 2027
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 1259 on October 15, 2026, increasing excise stamp production fees for tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids by approximately 30.5%, from UAH 0.1643 to UAH 0.2144 per stamp. Fees for alcoholic beverages rose by about 30.2%. Separately, Ukraine's parliament passed Bill No. 15532 on October 13, proposing to postpone the full implementation of electronic excise stamps and traceability for alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarette liquids from November 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027. Parliament cited additional testing, configuration and integration requirements. The bill was sent to the president for signature on October 19.
Regulations
Oct.21
As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation
As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation
A commentary published in the international open-access, peer-reviewed Harm Reduction Journal argues that randomized controlled trials remain central to evaluating smoking cessation efficacy but cannot alone capture real-world uptake, complete switching, longer-term use and population impact of non-combustible nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. The authors frame impact as “reach × efficacy” and call for real-world evidence to complement RCTs. Three days after publication, the FDA authorized three JUUL2 products and highlighted complete switching among adult smokers in explaining its decision, providing a timely regulatory backdrop to the debate.
Sep.08
PMI Expands U.S. ZYN Portfolio With New 1.5 mg and 8 mg Strengths, Moves Toward a Unified 20-Pouch-Per-Can Format
PMI Expands U.S. ZYN Portfolio With New 1.5 mg and 8 mg Strengths, Moves Toward a Unified 20-Pouch-Per-Can Format
Philip Morris International is expanding its U.S. ZYN nicotine pouch portfolio with new 1.5 mg and 8 mg strengths and plans to move its core 3 mg and 6 mg dry-pouch products from 15 to 20 pouches per can in the fourth quarter of 2026. ZYN ULTRA is also commercially available, with FDA authorization covering 10 products at 9 mg and one 11 mg Smooth product. PMI U.S. lists the new 1.5 mg and 8 mg strengths as commercially available, but as of September 10 they do not appear on the FDA’s public authorization list. Public materials do not identify which PMTA submissions cover the two new strengths or their current review status.
Sep.11