In Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, around 550 retailers voluntarily removed vapes and e-liquids from sale amid a broader crackdown on the category and expectations of a future nationwide ban. Regional authorities said the initiative follows a 2025 self-regulation program that encouraged businesses to exit the vape market, citing concerns over counterfeit products and weak regulatory oversight. Enforcement actions have also intensified, including store closures for violations, as officials signal a shift toward stricter controls and possible federal prohibition of vape sales in the near term.
Tag: Russia
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Russian Businesses Propose State Monopoly Over Vape Ban
Russian small business group Opora Russia and industry associations are urging federal authorities to abandon plans to ban the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems and e-liquids, warning the move would push the market further into the shadow economy without reducing nicotine use. In an appeal to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov last week, the group argued that allowing regions to impose their own vape bans — an idea backed by President Vladimir Putin and already pursued in areas such as the Vologda, Penza, and Perm regions — would fragment the national market and drive legitimate retailers out of business. Industry representatives estimate around 20,000 outlets sell ENDS in Russia, serving 10–12 million consumers, while claiming 75–85% of current sales already occur in the gray market.
As an alternative to prohibition, associations, including the Union of Participants in the Circulation of Nicotine-Containing Products, have proposed creating a state-controlled monopoly on the production of base e-liquid under a concession model, allowing tighter oversight of product flows and taxation. They cite past excise hikes as evidence that restrictive policy has reduced legal sales and tax receipts while expanding illicit trade. The proposal has been referred to the Finance Ministry for review as the government continues work on draft legislation that could allow regions to experiment with retail bans between 2027 and 2032.
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Russia Moves Toward Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes
Yesterday (March 25), Russia’s State Commission for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Industrial Products, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, backed a proposal to fully ban the production, import, and sale of electronic cigarettes, vapes, and refill liquids. Sources told Vedomosti that the next step will be drafting a bill, with authors likely to include State Duma deputies, the Ministry of Health, or the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A specific list of devices to be banned, potentially including e-hookahs and electronic pipes, will be finalized after further discussion.
President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed support for restrictions. However, experts warn that a ban could fuel Russia’s already large gray market, which accounts for roughly 68% of e-cigarette sales, potentially undermining enforcement. In 2024, the Russian e-cigarette market was estimated at over 250 billion rubles ($3 billion), with more than 245 million devices sold and 1.2 million liters of liquids produced for retail.
While the ban’s official legislation is still pending, the State Commission’s approval marks a significant step toward stricter regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems in Russia.
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Russia Announces Imminent Regs on Vape Products
Russia is expected to introduce legislation in the coming months to license the circulation of vape products, as authorities seek to address a market widely affected by counterfeit nicotine products. According to lawmaker Alexander Tolmachev, many products contain significantly higher nicotine levels than declared and often lack transparent ingredient information, underscoring the need for tighter oversight.
The proposed licensing regime is intended to restore control over the market, alongside broader efforts to eliminate illicit products and standardize vape packaging with health warnings similar to those required for cigarettes. The move comes amid wider regulatory tightening, including new measures targeting youth health protection, restrictions on advertising, and enhanced enforcement against illegal online tobacco sales.
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Russia Begins Shipping Tobacco to North Korea
Russia exported more than 110 tons of tobacco valued at over $700,000 to North Korea in 2025, according to estimates from the Agroexport federal center. The shipments mark the introduction of Russian tobacco products to the North Korean market, where they had not previously been supplied. The expansion formed part of broader growth in Russian agricultural exports to North Korea, which also included beer and rapeseed oil.
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$13M Illicit Vape Factory Uncovered in Russia
Russian authorities shut down an illegal vape liquid production workshop in the Moscow region. During 20 searches of residences, warehouses, and offices, police seized four production lines, 600,000 reusable vape devices, raw materials, and over 2 million rubles plus around $400,000, with a total product value estimated at about 1 billion rubles ($13 million). The operation reportedly ran nonstop, producing up to 75,000 units per shift, which were then distributed regionally or stored in warehouses.
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Russian Leader Says Generational Bans are Ridiculous
Russia’s Civic Chamber deputy secretary Vladislav Grib said he is against a “generational ban” for tobacco products, saying it is ridiculous to segregate people into groups of those who were “successfully” born and those who were not. The remarks were in response to the State Duma repeatedly proposing tobacco bans to those born after either 2009, 2015, or 2017.
Speaking to TASS, Grib criticized the proposals, arguing that such measures would create unequal classes of citizens, encourage proxy purchasing, and lead to human rights violations.
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Russian Police Seize $1.6M in Illicit Vapes
Russian police in the Tambov region seized more than 150,000 e-cigarettes, along with cartridges and liquids worth about 126.5 million rubles ($1.6 million). Authorities said the products were shipped from Moscow disguised as small household appliances and supported by fake documents. Testing found nicotine levels significantly higher than stated on the packaging. A man has been detained, and a criminal case has been opened for the storage and sale of unmarked e-cigarettes.
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Russian Deputies Call for Complete National Vape Ban
A group of State Duma deputies proposed amendments to completely ban the sale of vapes and e-liquids in Russia, while also introducing stricter penalties for illegal trafficking and involving minors in nicotine use. The amendments, prepared by deputies led by Yaroslav Nilov, Yana Lantratova, and Nina Ostanina, have been submitted for consideration to relevant working groups and reviewed by RBC.
The proposal is linked to the second reading of a bill on licensing the retail trade in tobacco and nicotine products. Deputies highlighted that the ban aligns with President Vladimir Putin’s call for radical measures to protect children and young people from vaping risks. The amendments were sent to multiple inter-factional working groups focusing on public health, moral education, and the protection of traditional Russian values.
The initiative has been framed as a long-overdue measure to safeguard public health, according to Lantratova, who emphasized that partial restrictions are insufficient. The current bill, submitted by the government in September 2025, sets a licensing framework for retail sales of tobacco and nicotine products, with unlicensed sales prohibited from September 1, 2026, and a transition period until September 1, 2027. The Ministry of Finance has also proposed giving regional authorities the power to impose local bans on vape sales, notifying the Federal Service for Alcohol Tobacco Control accordingly.
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Russia’s FSB Shuts Down Major Illegal Vape Supplier in Tula Region
Working in Russia’s Tula region, Federal Security Service (FSB) officers dismantled a large-scale operation in a warehouse containing counterfeit nicotine products worth over 500 million rubles ($6 million). Authorities said a 27-year-old resident organized the sale of unmarked electronic cigarettes, vapes, and liquids in violation of labeling laws. A criminal case has been opened against him for trafficking unmarked goods on a particularly large scale. The investigation continues to trace the supply network and distribution channels.