Russia to limit sale of flavored vapes from March – Kommersant

In autumn, the government will have the right to determine the list of vape flavors prohibited for sale. The ban will come into force on March 1, 2024, the Ministry of Health has already prepared an appropriate list, according to “News” with reference to the draft government decree.

According to the newspaper, the list is “rather extensive.” It includes food flavorings of fruits and vegetables, vegetable flavoring impurities and their derivatives – vanilla, spices, ginger, cinnamon. Sweeteners included are molasses, honey, stevia, maple syrup, agave syrup, as well as caffeine, guarana, and taurine. In addition, medicines, biologically active additives and vitamins C, E, amino acids are mentioned.

The Association of Retail Companies (AKORT) opposes the inclusion of food flavors, food additives, and nicotine salts in the list of prohibited substances. “In fact, this will lead to a ban on the circulation of vapes, since flavors are an integral part of them, they are used in the production of 100% liquids for electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes),” the AKORT recall says.

The organization fears that such a measure could lead to the emergence of an illegal trade market. In addition, tax deductions of legal participants to the budget will be reduced, AKORT is convinced. According to the association’s estimates, the innovations will affect at least 4.5 million adult vape users in the Russian Federation.

Develop an initiative to ban the sale of vapes to minors in January offered Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin. Offer supported deputies, Rospotrebnadzor, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Finance spoke about the risks of an increase in the illegal circulation of electronic cigarettes in the event of their ban and losses for the federal budget. At the end of April, President Vladimir Putin signed law restricting the sale of vapes.

Laura Keffer