WIPO Russia Market Manager Shares Insights at Vape Expo

Jun.18.2023
WIPO Russia Market Manager Shares Insights at Vape Expo
2FIRSTS reports on the impact of Russia's e-cigarette ban at Vape Club Show Moscow, including difficulties expanding new customer base.

The Vape Club Show Moscow, an e-cigarette exhibition, was held on June 17th and 18th at the Crocus Expo exhibition center in Moscow. As the official media partner, 2FIRSTS provided comprehensive live coverage of the event.


At the exhibition, 2FIRSTS interviewed the WIPO Russian market manager for e-cigarette brand, Daria. She stated that the offline ban on displaying e-cigarettes in Russia, which came into effect on June 1st, has little impact on them, but the online ban on sales and marketing has a greater impact.


Daria stated that although the display of e-cigarettes is banned offline, it does not affect orders from major clients. However, the online prohibition of sales and marketing has made it difficult for them to expand their customer base, as they can only promote their products through phone calls to customers.


Dalia holds a positive outlook on Russia's proposed e-cigarette regulation measures, which are currently a topic of discussion. Though the effects remain uncertain, she believes that the changes will likely be minimal.


Dalia explained that the majority of products produced by WIPO are disposable, as consumers find refillable products to be inconvenient and prefer using disposable ones. Therefore, the market for disposable products is larger compared to refillable ones.


When discussing the issue of illegal products in the Russian market, Daria stated that it is difficult for brand owners to avoid the problem of counterfeit goods. Head brands such as HQD and ELFBAR have also been deeply affected by fake and inferior products.



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.

Imperial Brands Sees Double-Digit NGP Growth as Sixth Year of Tobacco Revenue Gains Backs £1.5 Billion Buyback
Imperial Brands Sees Double-Digit NGP Growth as Sixth Year of Tobacco Revenue Gains Backs £1.5 Billion Buyback
Imperial Brands reaffirmed its FY26 guidance in its October 8 pre-close trading update, forecasting double-digit net revenue growth in next-generation products and share gains across heated tobacco, vape and modern oral. Tobacco net revenue is expected to grow at a low-single-digit rate, marking a sixth consecutive year of growth. The company has completed its £1.45 billion FY26 share repurchase and announced a £1.5 billion buyback for FY27. Group adjusted operating profit is expected to increase 3% to 5%, while free cash flow is forecast to exceed £2.2 billion.
Oct.09
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia's new retail tobacco permit system took effect October 1, requiring sellers of vapes, nicotine products and related devices and accessories to obtain a Retail Tobacco Permit for each business location. Virginia ABC said more than 3,000 businesses applied in September alone, creating a processing backlog. Qualifying applicants that filed before October 1 may temporarily operate under a Letter of Authorization. The new store-level permit also sits alongside Virginia's existing vape product directory, where sales of unlisted liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products can trigger civil penalties starting at $5,000.
Regulations
Oct.03
UK Vape Tax Countdown: Retailer Vape HQ Estimates 100ml E-liquid Prices Could Rise From £12.99 to £39.39, While Pod Kits Increase Less Than 10%
UK Vape Tax Countdown: Retailer Vape HQ Estimates 100ml E-liquid Prices Could Rise From £12.99 to £39.39, While Pod Kits Increase Less Than 10%
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty (VPD), scheduled to take effect in October 2026, is prompting retailers to assess how different vape categories may be affected. UK retailer Vape HQ has estimated potential price changes under the new volume-based tax system, showing that 100ml shortfill e-liquids could see prices rise from around £12.99 to £39.39, a 203% increase, while 2ml prefilled pod vape kits could rise from £5.99 to £6.52, an increase of about 9%. The estimates highlight how a volume-based tax structure creates uneven cost impacts across product categories.
Aug.19
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology (NYSE: RLX) has been removed from the FTSE All-World Index, effective September 21. FTSE Russell records show RLX was already part of its global equity index universe by 2022, when its American depositary receipts were classified as China Large Cap securities. Trading volume rose to about 44.77 million shares on September 18, roughly 23 times the previous session's volume. RLX reported RMB1.0105 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 14.8% year over year, with international operations contributing 68.5%. The company also acquired a 51% stake in one of Western Europe's largest distributors of next-generation smoke-free and FMCG products in July.
Sep.22
NATO Executive Director David Spross Sees U.S. Vape Regulation Improving, Calls for More PMTA Authorizations and Warns of 2027 State Tax Pressure
NATO Executive Director David Spross Sees U.S. Vape Regulation Improving, Calls for More PMTA Authorizations and Warns of 2027 State Tax Pressure
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets is calling for more FDA marketing authorizations, greater transparency in the PMTA process and continued enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes, even as its executive director, David Spross, points to recent regulatory developments as signs of progress. At the state level, excise taxes, flavor restrictions and vapor product directories remain major issues for tobacco retailers. By August 2026, 17 states had enacted laws establishing state-managed e-cigarette directories or similar systems.
Innovation
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Juul Labs displayed its JUUL2 e-cigarette system alongside existing products, age-verification messaging and mobile coupons, 2Firsts observed. The JUUL2 device and Virginia Tobacco and Polar Menthol pods received FDA marketing authorization in August 2026. Booth materials highlighted longer battery life, greater e-liquid capacity and connected-device features. A TruAge sign and a mobile coupon presentation also featured at the booth, with weekly offers available to age-verified adult nicotine consumers at participating retailers.
EXPO
Oct.09