Russian Senator: Ban on E-cig Couldn't Address the Issue

Recently, according to the Russian media Tverigrad, Andrey Yepishin, a member of the Russian Federation Council and Vice Chairman of the Budget and Financial Markets Committee, held a public reception at the public support office in Tver Oblast.

He heard the appeal from a teacher in the Sociology Department of a university in Tevill. The teacher pointed out that the frequency of e-cigarette use among the youth group is gradually increasing, and the popularity of e-cigarettes is showing a large-scale trend.

The teacher emphasized that although Russia has banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors (those under 18), the effectiveness of this ban is not ideal. The ban is easily broken, and the number of underage smokers has not decreased.

According to healthcare professionals, it is recommended that an amendment be submitted to the federal commission for resolutions that have already been passed to strengthen restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes, including banning the sale of such products and devices related to their use. Additionally, appropriate penalties should be considered for public officials who violate this ban.

E-cigarettes and e-liquid are marketed by e-cigarette manufacturers as a "safer" and "smoke-free" alternative to tobacco. However, a growing body of research confirms that the health risks of e-cigarettes are comparable to conventional cigarettes. Additionally, adolescents who misuse e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems are at double the risk of developing nicotine dependence, increasing their overall risk for smoking.

Russia signed a federal decree on April 28, 2023 aimed at addressing the widespread use of e-cigarettes among minors. The decree prohibits the sale of nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and other devices for nicotine use. These products can only be sold at the counter and minors are prohibited from purchasing them. At the same time, businesses are prohibited from promoting these devices through discounts, coupons, or gift certificates. The minimum price for these products will be determined by the Russian federal government. Additionally, amendments were made to the Advertising Law to prohibit ads that depict the process of using nicotine products.

André clearly stated the necessity of legislating regulation on the e-cigarette market during a public meeting.

Please note that this market must first become transparent and regulated, as a complete ban will always lead to underground sales, which means they do not solve the problem. For example, we clearly remember how the smoking ban in public places worked in practice. Therefore, in order to protect the health of citizens, especially children and adolescents, I believe that a simple "ban" is ineffective. Of course, government regulation and control are necessary. I firmly believe that any product containing nicotine, including e-cigarettes, should be as easily accessible as possible. This is the purpose of the federal law "Prohibition on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors" passed in April last year and the amendments to the Russian Administrative Offenses Code. Now we should discuss the practical results of these legislative regulations. Furthermore, the public's concerns about the severity of the issue are absolutely valid. Therefore, in the near future, I will suggest to my senatorial colleagues that we hold a discussion on this topic at the federal committee to clarify the practical measures and initial effects of national regulation of e-cigarettes.

Furthermore, during the public reception, André also reviewed the suggestions and opinions from the public on fraudulent practices related to illegal use of personal data of citizens, providing preferential treatment for disaster cleanup personnel, and converting residences to gas.

It is worth mentioning that Russian lawmakers are still advocating for a complete ban on e-cigarettes. They believe that despite the prohibition on selling e-cigarettes to minors, underage individuals are still finding ways to purchase these devices. According to data from the Russian Ministry of Health, the number of teenagers in Russia using e-cigarettes has increased tenfold nationwide over the past 12 years.