Moratorium on inspections of sellers of tobacco and alcohol products may be lifted

The Russian government has instructed the Ministry of Economic Development to work on the issue of resuming inspections of companies that sell alcohol and tobacco products. A representative of the Cabinet of Ministers told Vedomosti about this. The Ministry of Economy did not answer the questions substantively, saying only that the moratorium itself did not initially provide for a complete renunciation of inspections.

The initiative to take such measures came from State Duma deputy and deputy head of the inter-factional working group on protecting the health of citizens from alcohol, tobacco and drug threats Sultan Khamzaev. The editors have his letter to the government at their disposal. In it, he notes that low-quality alcohol and tobacco products can harm the health of the consumer. In particular, in June, in the regions of Central Russia (Samara, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Nizhny Novgorod, Kurgan regions, as well as Chuvashia and Udmurtia), cases of mass poisoning with alcoholic beverages of the Mister Cider brand occurred. As a result, 106 people were injured. In this regard, Khamzaev believes that it is necessary to return inspections and other supervisory measures in relation to organizations selling tobacco and ethyl alcohol.