Russia's Proposal to Ban E-Cigarette Flavorings: Expert Analysis

Apr.12.2023
Russia's Proposal to Ban E-Cigarette Flavorings: Expert Analysis
Russian parliament approves proposal to ban flavored e-cigarettes with addictive substances, effective September 2023.

On April 11th, the Russian State Duma passed a proposal with over 90% of votes in favour, proposing modifications to certain legislative regulations in the Russian Federation. The proposal includes a ban on flavoured additives in e-cigarettes. The bill will now be submitted for review to the Russian Federal Assembly and awaits the President's signature.


After the proposal's approval, will the electronic cigarette market be able to sell products in Russia again? Can tobacco and mint-flavored e-cigarettes be sold? When will the transitional period end? These issues have attracted much attention. In light of this, Liang Jiasen, a researcher for 2FIRSTS' Russian market, provided a professional interpretation of the proposal.


Proposal details:


The government of the Russian Federation has the authority to ban the addition of substances that "increase the appeal and/or addictive nature of nicotine" in products containing liquid nicotine, non-nicotine liquid, and nicotine solution, including those used for electronic nicotine delivery devices. Manufacturers and sellers of these products are prohibited from adding such substances.


Firsts Decoded:


The proposal prohibits the production and sale of electronic cigarettes containing flavor additives and addictive substances such as nicotine, including products with and without nicotine. This essentially covers all vape e-liquids currently available in the market.


According to discussions at the Duma meeting, these additives and nicotine addiction substances mainly refer to the popular fruit-flavored and other stimulating flavors of e-cigarette liquids on the market. The specific additive standards are yet to be disclosed by the Russian federal government in the next step.


This part of the content will come into effect on September 1st, 2023.


Currently, it is still possible to sell electronic cigarettes in the Russian market. However, the issue of whether tobacco and mint-flavored e-cigarettes can be sold remains unclear. The specific scope of the ban on flavor additives was not mentioned in this legislation, so further clarification from the Government of the Russian Federation is necessary to determine the extent of the ban.


2FIRSTS will continue to report on this issue. An article interpreting the "minimum sale price regulation for nicotine-containing products" will be published later, please stay tuned.


Topic: Progress of the Russian Ban on Flavored E-Cigarettes and Expert Analysis (Click on the image below to jump)


Read related articles:


Timeline and Background of Russia's Ban on Certain Flavors: Bill Passes All Three Readings in One Day


The ban on flavor additives in electronic cigarettes in Russia will come into effect on September 1st. The proposal in its entirety is attached. On April 11th, Russia will hold its first discussion on the proposal to ban flavored electronic cigarettes.


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


Russian Prime Minister Mishustin considers banning e-cigarettes.


Expert analysis series:


Expert Analysis 2: Russia Sets Minimum Retail Price for E-Cigarettes to Reduce Demand for Nicotine Products.


Expert interpretation 3: Russia proposes ban on online sales and offline displays of electronic cigarettes, effective June 1st.



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.

Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
The UK High Court has ordered Chinese vape manufacturer Shenzhen SKE Technology to provide £569,039 ($776,000) in security for costs in its design infringement proceedings against Vapepen London and other defendants over its Crystal Bar vape product. The court did not accept the defendants’ main argument that recovering costs from a China-based company would face significant enforcement obstacles, but found that SKE had not sufficiently disclosed its own financial position. The order is procedural and does not determine the underlying infringement claims.
News
Aug.21
Sesh touts independence, 8VC backing and retail reach as it challenges tobacco-owned pouch brands
Sesh touts independence, 8VC backing and retail reach as it challenges tobacco-owned pouch brands
U.S. nicotine pouch brand Sesh has emphasized its independence from Altria, Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, along with backing from investors including 8VC, celebrity supporters and a retail footprint of more than 7,500 stores, as it seeks to differentiate itself in a market where major pouch brands are owned by large tobacco companies.
Regulations
Jul.07 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Changes Reshape Consumer Choices, Survey Reveals Impact of Price and Income
Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Changes Reshape Consumer Choices, Survey Reveals Impact of Price and Income
A consumer survey by Japanese heated tobacco information platform RELAZO found that rising tobacco prices and planned heated tobacco tax changes may influence smoking decisions among Japanese consumers. The survey covered 49,879 men and women aged 20 to 69 nationwide. It found that around 40% of respondents cumulatively indicated they may consider quitting when a pack reaches ¥600 (approximately US$4.1), while nearly 90% expressed potential quitting intentions at a ¥1,000 (approximately US$6.8) price level. The survey also found significant differences by income level, with lower-income respondents showing greater sensitivity to price increases.
Jul.24
Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria’s second-quarter results show a U.S. nicotine market splitting across price, product and regulation. Smokeable profit rose 2.4% as Marlboro pricing offset lower volumes, while discount brand Basic gained share among value-conscious smokers. In oral nicotine, on! PLUS expanded distribution but faced intensifying competition from ZYN and Velo. NJOY remained off the market as patent and regulatory hurdles delayed its return. The broader lesson: U.S. growth increasingly depends on price-tier strategy, retail execution, authorisation and enforcement readiness across the industry.
Special Report
Jul.31
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Julia Neumaier, general manager of Seita, Imperial Brands’ French subsidiary, said France should focus vaping regulation on access control, age verification, online sales and distribution channels, rather than applying tobacco-style plain packaging to vaping products.
Jul.15
South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s new vape regulations are reshaping the e-liquid market, raising compliance requirements for manufacturers, retailers and overseas suppliers. In an interview with 2Firsts, Korean nicotine products specialist Sam Kim discusses licensing barriers, inventory impacts, China-linked supply chains, and emerging regulatory challenges around nicotine analogues, nicotine-free products and DIY mixing. The Korean case may offer broader insights as governments worldwide adapt to rapidly evolving nicotine products.
Jul.16