Russia Plans $20,000 Fines for Selling Tobacco to Minors

Nov.26.2024
Russia Plans $20,000 Fines for Selling Tobacco to Minors
Russia is considering raising fines for selling tobacco and nicotine products to minors, with corporations facing penalties of up to $20,000. Previously, the State Duma proposed introducing criminal liability for selling e-cigarettes to minors.

According to TASS, on November 26th, selling tobacco and nicotine products (including hookah) to minors could result in fines of up to 2 million rubles (20,000 USD) for businesses. This information is based on the text of the "Administrative Responsibilities for Violations of Tobacco Product Sales" law.


The draft proposes amending Article 14.53 of the Russian Federation Administrative Code (violations of trade restrictions and/or prohibitions on tobacco products, tobacco, nicotine products and their raw materials, water pipes, and devices for consuming nicotine products).


According to the draft proposal, fines for selling tobacco products to children will be increased. The fine for individuals will range from 200,000 to 300,000 rubles (approximately $2,000 to $2,900), for officials it will range from 500,000 to 700,000 rubles (approximately $4,800 to $6,800), and for legal entities it will range from 1.5 million to 2 million rubles (approximately $14,000 to $20,000). Currently, fines for such violations are 40,000 to 60,000 rubles (approximately $380 to $580) for individuals, 150,000 to 300,000 rubles (approximately $1,500 to $2,900) for officials, and 400,000 to 600,000 rubles (approximately $3,900 to $5,800) for legal entities.


Earlier, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, announced that a draft law is being prepared to impose criminal penalties for selling e-cigarettes to minors, as well as increasing fines for such violations. (For more information, please read: Russia plans to introduce new law criminalizing sale of e-cigarettes to minors)


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