Russian lawmaker warns against premature implementation of warning images on heated tobacco packaging, citing ongoing EAEU regulations discussions

Key points:

Proposal background: The Vice Speaker of the State Duma suggests putting warning images on the packaging of heated tobacco devices to reduce the use of such products among young people. 

Opposition view: Artem Kiryanov, Vice Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, believes that it is premature to discuss warning images at the moment, as the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are still being negotiated. 

Regulatory negotiations: EAEU technical regulations will harmonize packaging requirements for nicotine-containing products, and Russia will have to wait for the union regulations to be finalized before taking action. 

Potential risks: Kiryanov warns that implementing new restrictions too early may lead to tobacco products flowing into Russia from neighboring countries, affecting the market. Priority task: The current priority is to accelerate the adoption of EAEU regulations to ensure unified market standards.

According to a report from PNP on August 7, Artem Kiryanov, Deputy Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, stated that it is currently premature to discuss setting warning images for heated tobacco devices in Russia, as negotiations on technical regulations for nicotine products within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are still ongoing.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Boris Chernyshov proposed placing graphic images similar to those on cigarette packaging on heated tobacco device packaging to warn of the dangers of smoking. He pointed out that currently one in three young smokers chooses heated tobacco products, but this is a misconception about their safety.

Kiryanov called for caution in implementing such measures. He stated that the packaging requirements for various types of nicotine-containing products, including heated tobacco products, will be regulated by uniform technical regulations applicable to all Eurasian Economic Union countries. Therefore, discussing the implementation of warning pictures in Russia at this stage is immature.

According to him, the current EAEU technical regulations being negotiated will set necessary requirements for packaging design. Kiryanov added that the top priority should be to push for the quick adoption of the regulations. He believes that different new restrictive measures may cause similar products to be moved from neighboring countries to Russia for sale.