RBC learned about fines for the sale of counterfeit cigarettes

The Ministry of Finance of Russia proposed to introduce criminal liability for the production and sale of tobacco products without a license. According to RBC, in the event of amendments to the legislation, suppliers and manufacturers of counterfeit products face a fine in the amount of 500 thousand to 1 million rubles. The maximum penalty is three years in prison.

It is proposed to regulate the circulation of tobacco and nicotine-containing products by analogy with the system of state regulation and control of the alcohol market. The press service of the Ministry of Finance confirmed to RBC that the package of bills was accepted by the government for consideration. The document was approved by the responsible departments, in particular, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Federal Service for Alcohol Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

As RBC clarifies, the production, purchase, storage, supply, including across the Russian border, of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as raw materials for their production without a license, will be punished by a fine of 500 thousand to 1 million rubles. or in the amount of salary for a year up to three years. Suppliers and manufacturers of counterfeit products can also be sentenced to forced labor for up to three years or imprisoned for the same period, or deprived of the right to hold certain positions for up to three years.

The explanatory materials note that the share of illegal tobacco products in the Russian market increased from 1.5% in 2016 to 10.7% in 2021. The authors of the bill believe that the changes will reduce the share of the illegal market of tobacco products. It is expected that by 2024 it will amount to 10% of the entire market, by 2026 – 8%, and by 2028 it will be halved, to 5%.

It is specified that the introduction of amendments to the legislation will allow attracting 34 billion rubles to the budget. in 2024. In 2026, revenues will amount to about 50 billion rubles, in 2028 – 74 billion rubles.

The fact that the Ministry of Finance has submitted to the government a draft law providing for state regulation of the production and distribution of tobacco products in Russia, became known June 9, 2022. In addition, on January 18, the State Duma in the second and third readings accepted a law according to which, from March 1, excise taxes on cigarettes, cigarettes and liquids for vapes will be unscheduled increased by 2-11%, while excise taxes on electronic cigarettes will be canceled.

More details – in the publication “Kommersant” “Parliamentarians let in the fog”.