Russian Government Responds to Proposed E-Cig Ban: Implement with Caution

Russian media, parliamentary newspaper, reported on January 29th that the government has responded to the proposed comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes by the Russian Liberal Democratic Party.

Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, has stated that despite the proposal of a ban on e-cigarette sales, the government believes this may contradict regulations on the production and sale of other regulated products and raw materials. Additionally, there are concerns that the ban could lead to an increase in illegal transactions.

The bill was initially introduced by a member of the Liberal Democratic Party in November 2023, sparking concerns from the government regarding its potential inconsistencies and the potential for fostering the growth of illicit markets.

Nikolov stated that they will make amendments to the bill, taking into full consideration the government's feedback, before submitting it again to the State Duma. He also mentioned that Russia has already implemented certain restrictions on e-cigarette sales, including stronger penalties and increased consumption taxes.

The government has pointed out that the usage rate of e-cigarettes in Russia has nearly tripled in recent years, increasing from 8% to 21%. Despite some studies claiming that e-cigarettes are relatively less harmful, the government remains concerned about the potential risks they may pose to health, including cancer and diseases related to the respiratory and reproductive systems.

Nilofov emphasized that the government will refer to Kazakhstan's experience and stressed that Russia should not conflict with the interests of its citizens when participating in international agreements, especially when it comes to health issues. Kazakhstan has already passed a bill prohibiting the import, production, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes, and has recommended criminal liability for sales.

In Kazakhstan, sellers who violate this law may face up to 50 days of detention, while importers and distributors may be sentenced to up to two years in prison. Although Russia is not the only country within the Eurasian Economic Union to impose restrictions on e-cigarettes, the government hopes to determine whether a complete ban on e-cigarettes should be implemented by evaluating the policies already in place.

In general, the government believes that achieving the ban target will require time. They support companies in making self-adjustments from a legal perspective, while assessing the effectiveness of measures already taken in the process of striving towards the goal.