Russia's proposed tobacco product regulation and licensing requirements

Apr.14.2023
Russia's proposed tobacco product regulation and licensing requirements
Russia proposes mandatory licenses for tobacco products and raw materials, effective from September 1, 2023.

On April 12th, the "Proposal on State Regulation of the Production and Circulation of Tobacco Products, Tobacco Industry Products, Nicotine-Containing Products and Their Raw Materials" (No. 310882-8, hereinafter referred to as "the Proposal") was passed in the first reading by the State Duma of Russia.


The following are the original text and Chinese translation of the relevant proposal by 2FIRSTS.


Classification of Mandatory Licensing Types


The first section of Article 8 of the proposal stipulates mandatory licensing requirements for the production and sale of tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and raw materials used to produce such products.


What kinds of tobacco products are specifically covered by the license? Which stages require specific licenses? Is a license required for the import and export of products? Liang Jiasen, a market researcher for 2FIRSTS in Russia, provided a professional interpretation of the proposal.


According to the first part of Article 8 in general terms, activities related to the production and sale of tobacco products, nicotine-containing products, and materials utilized in the production of these products require a license.


The production, storage, and supply of tobacco products, raw materials, nicotine-containing products, and raw materials for the production, storage, and supply of tobacco products and nicotine-containing products are involved in their import and export within the Russian Federation. The circulation of raw materials and nicotine-containing raw materials is also included in their import and export within the Russian Federation. Additionally, the purchase of tobacco products and nicotine-containing products for use as duty-free trade under customs procedures, as well as the production, storage, and supply of cigars and related activities are included.


Experts Interpret


According to Liang Jiasen, a market researcher at 2FIRSTS, the first item on the license refers to a "raw material production license" for the production, storage, and supply of tobacco products, raw materials, nicotine-containing products, and nicotine raw materials. Such a license is required at every stage of the raw material production process.


Regarding the second provision on "production, storage and supply of tobacco products and products containing nicotine," this license is known as a "product manufacturing license," which is required for all stages of production for such products.


In relation to the third point regarding the circulation of tobacco and nicotine-containing products entering and exiting the Russian Federation, the license referred to is the "Product Import License". This license is necessary for the importation of such products into Russia and must be presented at all relevant stages of the process.


In relation to the fourth item on the import and export of raw materials and nicotine raw materials into and out of the Russian Federation, the license required is the "Raw Material Import License", which is necessary for the importation of such products into Russia. This license is required for all relevant import processes in Russia.


Regarding the fifth provision which pertains to the production, storage, and supply of cigars, it is identified as the "Cigar Production License" of the Russian Federation.


Regarding the sixth provision, which pertains to the purchase of tobacco and nicotine-containing products for sale as duty-free goods under customs procedures, this clause is part of the Russian Federation's "License for the Circulation of Duty-Free Tobacco and Nicotine products.


Scheduled to take effect on September 1st, 2023.


If the proposal is ultimately passed through the Russian legislative process, it will come into effect on September 1, 2023, with the mandatory licensing provisions outlined in Section 8, Part 1 of the proposal to be implemented on the same date. Holding a license will become a requirement from March 1, 2024. If tobacco manufacturers are found to not have a license, to have their license suspended or revoked, their production equipment will be ordered to be sealed.


2FIRSTS will continue to interpret and provide further details on laws and related content.


Topic: Progress and Expert Analysis on Russia's Ban on Flavored E-cigarettes (Click the Image Below to Jump)


Expert Analysis Series:


Expert analysis 1: The ban on flavored e-cigarettes in Russia includes all products, and the specific standards for additives have yet to be disclosed.


Expert analysis 2: Russia sets minimum retail price for e-cigarettes to reduce demand for nicotine products.


Further Reading:


Manufacturers of nicotine products in Russia now need to apply for a license following the approval of a draft law during its first reading.


Timeline and Background of Russia's Taste Ban Law Passed in Three Readings in One Day


On September 1st, a ban on flavor additives in e-cigarettes in Russia will take effect. The proposal text is available in reference 3. On April 11th, a proposal to ban flavored e-cigarettes in Russia will undergo its first discussion.


Russia proposes to impose a maximum fine of 500,000 rubles on those who sell electronic cigarettes to minors.


What is the progress in the ban on flavored products in the Russian legislative process?



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.

2Firsts Exclusive Analysis | RLX Q1 Revenue Rises 96.2%, International Business Points to a More Integrated Global Strategy
2Firsts Exclusive Analysis | RLX Q1 Revenue Rises 96.2%, International Business Points to a More Integrated Global Strategy
RLX Technology’s Q1 net revenues rose 96.2% year over year, with international business accounting for 72.3% of total revenue. Beyond the headline growth, the results point to deeper globalization: European operations, Nexus supply-chain integration and a broader product portfolio are becoming key signals to watch.
Special Report
May.20
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez is co-leading a coalition of 19 states and jurisdictions urging the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 to end sponsorships involving tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouch brands such as Zyn and Velo.
News
Jun.09
RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
The Texas Supreme Court issued a case summary on May 8, 2026, describing its decision in Hancock v. RJR Vapor Co. LLC. The dispute centered on whether RJR Vapor’s VELO oral nicotine pouches are taxable as “tobacco products” under the Texas Tax Code. Lower courts had held that the pouches were not taxable tobacco products, but the Texas Supreme Court reversed, concluding that VELO pouches are taxable because they are made of “a tobacco substitute.”
May.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea Moves Against Synthetic Nicotine Regulatory Gap as Three Companies Face Tobacco Business Act Probe
South Korea Moves Against Synthetic Nicotine Regulatory Gap as Three Companies Face Tobacco Business Act Probe
South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy said on May 4 that it requested the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency to investigate three sales companies on suspicion of violating the Tobacco Business Act.
May.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Compliance Briefing on Building PMTA Support Capabilities Across the Nicotine Supply Chain
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Compliance Briefing on Building PMTA Support Capabilities Across the Nicotine Supply Chain
2Firsts held a U.S. compliance briefing in Shenzhen to help vaping, heated tobacco and nicotine pouch supply chain companies strengthen PMTA support capabilities. The event focused on supplier documentation, quality systems, traceability, TPMF/TPMP pathways, age verification and customer audit readiness as U.S. compliance expectations increasingly extend deeper into the nicotine supply chain.
Events
Jun.12
Special Report|U.S.-Facing Retailer Lists RELX Creator Pro 15K: A Chinese Brand Signal Under FDA’s Lower-Priority Enforcement Window
Special Report|U.S.-Facing Retailer Lists RELX Creator Pro 15K: A Chinese Brand Signal Under FDA’s Lower-Priority Enforcement Window
Vapesourcing has listed RELX Creator Pro 15K as “Coming Soon” with U.S. warehouse shipping options; while the page does not show that RELX has entered the U.S. market through official channels or that the product has received FDA authorization, the listing suggests that Chinese brand-led ENDS products are becoming a new point of observation as the U.S. market reassesses regulatory risk following the FDA’s updated enforcement-priority policy.
Industry Insight
Jun.11