Russia's Legislative Council Proposed an Unlicensed Tobacco Smuggling Bill

On March 20, The Russian State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation recommended that the House of Representatives passed a bill stipulating administrative and criminal liability for the production and circulation of tobacco and tobacco products without production permits.

The draft law regulates the production and circulation of tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and their raw materials.

The Article 171.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes penalties for the illicit production and circulation of ethanol, alcohol, and alcoholic products. In addition, the bill introduces regulation of tobacco products, tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and their raw materials. Therefore, in the absence of a corresponding license, large-scale production, procurement, supply, and storage of tobacco products, tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and their raw materials will be fined 500,000 to 1 million rubles, or sentenced to up to 3 years of forced labor, or up to 3 years of imprisonment.

It is proposed to add Article 14.67 to the "Code of Administrative Offences," which ' violates the production or circulation requirements of tobacco products, tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and their raw materials.' For producing and circulating tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and raw materials without corresponding licenses, officials will be fined 150,000 to 300,000 rubles and confiscated products, equipment, and raw materials. For legal entities, a fine of 300,000 to 1 million rubles will be imposed, and products, equipment, and raw materials will be confiscated.

Reference: 
Госдуме рекомендовали принять законопроекты о наказании за оборот табака без лицензии