According to a report from TASS, the economic policy committee of the Russian Federation Council has proposed imprisonment ranging from three to seven years for individuals involved in the smuggling of e-cigarette liquid.
Russian newspaper "News Report" cited information from a letter by a senator to Maxim Oreshkin, an aide to the Russian president.
E-cigarette liquid is being recommended to be included in the list of strategically important commodities. Apart from imprisonment, fines for smuggling strategically important commodities can go up to one million rubles.
Senator Andrey Kutepov emphasized to "News Bulletin" after signing this letter that all goods illegally imported from the Eurasian Economic Union are not considered as smuggling and are not covered by relevant provisions in Russian criminal law.
As a result, they have decided to include cigarettes and alcohol in the list of strategically important commodities by 2024, as the regulations for smuggling these goods also apply to cross-border trade. Kuzhebov strongly maintains that just like cigarettes, e-cigarette liquid also needs to be added to the list of strategically important commodities.
By 2024, the consumer tax on e-cigarette liquid is set to increase to 42 rubles per milliliter, reaching 44 rubles per milliliter in 2025 and further escalating to 46 rubles per milliliter in 2026. Currently, the tax rate stands at 20 rubles per milliliter.
Kubatbek Kojubayev stated that "when the consumption tax doubles and import permits are put in place for third countries starting from 2024, the main illegal goods will directly shift to the open borders with Kazakhstan and to a lesser extent with Belarus.
The Ministry of Commerce's press office informed The Gazette that they have not yet received the initiative from the Federal Commission of Russia.
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
