As Russia discusses banning vapes again, their sales are growing. Thus, from February 2022 to February 2023, the sales volume of electronic cigarette closed systems increased year-on-year by 12% in physical terms and 30% in monetary terms. Evidenced by the data provided by RTVI to the analysis company NielsenIQ.
Sales of disposable e-cigarettes, including disposable vapes, increased 37% in physical terms and 63% in monetary terms over the year. A year earlier, the picture was different: in the closed electronics category, sales fell 45% and 34% respectively, while disposables rose 442% and 646%. NielsenIQ explained this by demand in 2021 from young audiences: it was important for consumers to try different tastes and not be tied to a particular device.
In Russia, the ban on vaping has been discussed many times. For example, last year to ban the sale of vapes, as well as electronic cigarettes suggested LDPR Chairman Leonid Slutsky. He said that “at the many requests of voters” the corresponding bill was submitted to the State Duma. However, the initiative was not supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade: they felt that a complete ban would lead to the formation of a black market.
At the beginning of 2023, the idea of ​​​​banning vapes and electronic cigarettes reached a new level: the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin educated make appropriate proposals to the competent committees – on health protection, as well as on education. Consider also the proposal of the deputies promised Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The idea of ​​the ban was supported by Rospotrebnadzor: it reminded , that now in Russia it is impossible to sell electronic devices in which the concentration of nicotine exceeds 20 mg / ml, while in many devices this figure is much higher. In addition, during research on a number of products, Rospotrebnadzor found chemicals that are not listed in the composition of the label, which “poses a threat to public health”.
According to an RTVI source close to the discussions in the State Duma, the relevant committees have not yet formed a new draft law to ban vapes and electronic cigarettes. According to him, we are still not talking about a complete ban: most likely, MPs will try to tighten the existing rules of trade and liability for their violation.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture developed a bill that will enable the pre-trial blocking of online platforms selling tobacco and nicotine-containing products. From now on, distance sales of these goods are prohibited, while the ministry notes that most of the products on the market are sold on marketplaces and social networks.
