The Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated the damage to the budget from illicit tobacco trafficking at 46.5 billion rubles.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has calculated the damage to the federal budget from illegal tobacco trafficking. In the first half of 2023, it amounted to at least 46.5 billion rubles.

According to Vladislav Zaslavsky, Director of the Department for the Digital Marking of Goods and Legalization of Product Circulation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, budget losses from the illegal sale of tobacco products were calculated based on a study by the National Scientific Competence Center in the field of combating illicit trafficking in industrial products.

“The share of illicit trafficking in cigarettes was 13.3% in terms of smokers. The minimum budget losses for the first half of 2023 are estimated at 46.5 billion rubles,” said Mr. Zaslavsky (quoted from “Interfax”).

In June, Vladimir Putin signed law, which establishes state regulation of the production and circulation of tobacco products in the country by analogy with alcohol. The law will come into force on March 1, 2024.

For the production of nicotine-containing products, it will be necessary to obtain a license for the installation of equipment for production with mandatory state registration, as well as keep records of products based on the Chestny Znak labeling system. The conservation of equipment not used for the preparation of tobacco products will become mandatory. Import and export of products containing nicotine will be possible only with a license.

More details in the publication “Kommersant FM” “Illegal tobacco will bring to the point”.