Parliamentarians let in the fog – Newspaper Kommersant No. 10 (7455) of 01/20/2023

The idea of ​​a possible limitation of sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), raised recently by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, does not leave the headlines of news agencies. On Wednesday, he instructed Duma committees to prepare proposals for the possibility of banning such products, noting the growing popularity of vaping among schoolchildren. On Thursday, the Rospotrebnadzor conceptually supported the initiative, and State Duma Vice Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy announced his readiness to hold parliamentary hearings on the topic. All these messages make smokers nervous, but it seems to be nothing to worry about.

As my industry sources remind me, the idea of ​​a possible ENDS ban periodically arises among some State Duma deputies after reports of the possible poisoning of teenagers with such products. The corresponding bill was submitted to the State Duma in the summer of 2022 by the LDPR faction, but the initiative had no further movement. In addition, the state is just beginning to tighten control on the ENDS market.

In December 2022, digital labeling of ENDS and liquids began in Russia, sales of which are estimated at more than 200 million devices and over 60 million vials per year. As reported in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the budget of the Russian Federation does not receive 65 billion rubles from the turnover of illegal products on this market. in year. And with the strengthening of control over the turnover, these funds, apparently, can be counted on. At the same time, the Russian Federation is already planning to index excise taxes on liquids for ENDS in 2023–2025, which also indicates the state’s interest in this market as a source of budget replenishment. There is no doubt that the budget needs revenues. A recent example from the consumer sector is the introduction of an excise tax on sugary soft drinks from July 2023.

ENDS manufacturers themselves have already warned that a ban on vapes will lead to the withdrawal of buyers to the black market, suggesting to pay attention to measures that prevent minors from accessing products. And my interlocutors in the industry also note the inconsistency of officials and supervisory authorities. According to them, they repeatedly pointed out to the authorities the availability of disposable ENDS for free sale on one large online marketplace. But in response, they received only “replies” about the impossibility to take action for one reason or another, for example, because of the moratorium on business inspections.

According to one of my interlocutors, the statements of the leadership of the State Duma on the ban on vapes so far look like a preface to the consideration of a bill on a single regulator for the tobacco industry, where deputies can again discuss tightening regulation, recalling that they have been keeping the topic “under control” for some time.