Russian Vape Industry Proposes State Monopoly on E-Liquid Production as Alternative to Ban

Apr.03

Russian business groups are trying to persuade the authorities to abandon plans to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and related liquids at both the federal and regional levels.

Key Takeaways

Opora Russia sent a letter to Denis Manturov on March 30 opposing a ban on e-cigarettes and related liquids in Russia.
Business groups oppose bans on electronic nicotine delivery systems and their liquids at both the federal and regional levels.
Russia is considering allowing regions to impose vape sales restrictions, with a trial period proposed from March 1, 2027 to March 1, 2032.
Industry representatives said about 20,000 retail outlets in Russia currently sell ENDS products.
As an alternative, an industry group proposed a state monopoly on the production of nicotine base liquid.

2Firsts, April 1, 2026

According to Kommersant, Russian business groups are working through Opora Russia and industry associations to persuade the authorities to abandon plans to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and related liquids at both the federal and regional levels.

Business groups say a vape ban would create risks greater than any likely regulatory effect

In a letter sent by Opora Russia to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on March 30, the business community said that banning electronic nicotine delivery systems and their liquids would create economic, legal and political risks that would significantly exceed any possible regulatory effect.

Kirill Kuznetsov, chairman of Opora Russia’s excisable goods committee, said the organisation opposes any bans that could force a substantial number of entrepreneurs out of the market. He said about 20,000 retail outlets in Russia currently sell ENDS products and added that it would be inappropriate to fragment the country’s economic space through separate regional initiatives.

Russia is considering both regional vape ban trials and broader restrictions

The report said restrictions on vape sales in Russia have been under discussion since the summer of 2025. In August 2025, Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin proposed giving regions the right to introduce such measures independently, and President Vladimir Putin supported the idea. In March 2026, Denis Manturov said several ministries had been tasked with working on a ban on the circulation of ENDS in Russia.

At present, the possibility of allowing regions to ban ENDS sales is planned as part of second-reading amendments to the law on licensing wholesale and retail tobacco trade. The report said this experiment is expected to run from March 1, 2027 to March 1, 2032. In regions that do not use the right to impose a ban, the issue would instead be addressed through retail licensing measures.

The report also said that the regional-ban option is seen as a compromise, with the alternative being a total nationwide ban on ENDS circulation. Russia’s State Commission on Countering Illegal Industrial Product Turnover had previously supported the full-ban scenario.

Industry group proposes state monopoly on e-liquid production instead of a ban

Dmitry Vladimirov, director of the Union of Participants in the Circulation of Nicotine-Containing Products, said a total ban has no proven effectiveness but carries direct risks for consumers and the budget.

In its letter to Manturov, Opora Russia referred to Vietnam’s 2025 strict ban on ENDS and their liquids, which it said pushed sales into illegal channels, and to Kazakhstan’s 2024 vape ban, which it said created similar problems. Business representatives also said that the absence of significant restrictions on ENDS sales in neighboring countries such as Belarus would add further risk for the Russian market.

Image source: Yevgeny Razumny / Kommersant

After months of debate, Russian lawmakers have retreated from plans for a nationwide vaping ban, opting instead for a single-region pilot. The shift reflects pressure from business groups and fiscal authorities, amid warnings that sweeping prohibitions could fuel illegal trade while undermining efforts to regulate the market.

www.2firsts.com

References:

[1] Запрету предложили испариться

Also Read:

[1] Russia May Allow Regions to Introduce Experimental Vape Sales Bans

[2] Russia Moves Toward Full Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes, With Scope Still Under Discussion

[3] Russian Lawmaker Says Vape Circulation Licensing Will Be Regulated by Law in the Coming Months

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Michael Olise’s World Cup Locker-Room Photo Puts Nicotine Pouches in the Sports Business Spotlight

Several European sports outlets have reported on a suspected nicotine pouch seen in French footballer Michael Olise’s locker photo, bringing football’s long-running “snus” culture back into public view and highlighting brand visibility, product classification and public-health debate around nicotine pouches in sports settings.

News

Jun.25 by 2Firsts Perspectives

Alaska Warns 1,500 Tobacco Retailers Over Unauthorized Vapes and Nicotine Pouches

Alaska Attorney General Stephen J. Cox has sent notices to more than 1,500 tobacco retailers and distributors warning them against selling vape and nicotine pouch products that lack authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the Alaska Department of Law, businesses were advised to verify products against FDA authorization databases and avoid selling unauthorized nicotine products. The action highlights how state-level enforcement is increasingly extending federal product authorization requirements to retail channels.

Jul.24

FTC Scrutinizes Fifty Bar’s “Made in America” Claims as Vape Marketing Faces New Compliance Risk

The Federal Trade Commission sent a warning letter to Lucky Bar Holdings LLC over “Made in the USA” claims tied to Fifty Bar vape products, saying staff had reason to believe the products may be imported in whole or in significant part despite unqualified U.S.-origin marketing claims.

Jul.20

Product | VEEV One Plus Goes Official as PMI Strengthens Its Closed-Pod Vaping Portfolio

Philip Morris International (PMI) has officially introduced the VEEV One Plus, the next-generation device in its closed-pod vaping lineup. The product is now featured on the official VEEV website in Portugal, bringing hardware upgrades including a new dual-pod storage system, a larger battery, and an updated device design while maintaining compatibility with existing VEEV One pods.

Jul.02

Product | Republic Technologies Launches ZIG Nicotine Pouches, Expanding Beyond Traditional Tobacco Accessories

Republic Technologies UK has entered the nicotine pouch market with ZIG Nicotine Pouches, marking the company’s expansion beyond traditional tobacco-related accessories into smoke-free nicotine products. The product is expected to enter UK retail channels from August 2026, including convenience stores, supermarkets and tobacco retailers. The launch includes six flavors and three nicotine strengths: 8mg, 12mg and 17mg.

Market

Jul.21 by 2Firsts Perspectives

Dutch NVWA Seizes Record 277,000 Illegal Vapes; Video Shows “AL FAKHER” Cartons

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, known as the NVWA, seized more than 277,000 illegal vapes near Rotterdam and nearly 150,000 boxes of nicotine pouches in Utrecht and Rotterdam, calling them the largest batches of such products it has found to date. Video footage released by the NVWA shows some cartons in the warehouse bearing the “AL FAKHER / الفاخر” name, though the agency did not identify brands.

Jul.10