RUSSIA MOVES TOWARD FULL VAPE BAN FOLLOWING STATE COMMISSION SUPPORT

According to Vedomosti, Russia’s State Commission for Countering Illegal Trafficking in Industrial Products has backed a sweeping proposal to ban the production, import, and sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and refill liquids. The decision was made during a March 25 meeting chaired by Denis Manturov.

Sources familiar with the meeting said a draft law will now be prepared. Given the commission’s cross-agency authority—bringing together federal and regional leaders—its initiatives are often fast-tracked into legislation.

While the meeting was initially intended to address stricter inspections of the electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) market, discussions shifted, resulting in unanimous support for a full ban on sales.

Details of the ban—including the exact list of affected products—are still under review. Beyond vapes and e-cigarettes, devices such as electronic hookahs and pipes may also be included.

The final bill’s authorship remains undecided but could involve lawmakers from the State Duma or key agencies like the Health Ministry, Industry and Trade Ministry, or Rospotrebnadzor.

The move follows earlier legislative efforts in December 2025, when lawmakers proposed tighter licensing rules for tobacco and nicotine products, including restrictions on vape sales, though that bill has yet to proceed to its second reading.