A complete ban on the sale of vapes and related liquids is being prepared in Russia, as reported by "Vedomosti," citing State Duma deputies.
In December 2023, the lower house of the Russian parliament (State Duma) passed a law imposing fines for the sale of tobacco and nicotine-containing products to minors. The fines range from 50,000 to 80,000 rubles for individuals and up to 2 million rubles for legal entities. However, this law, as noted by the deputies, has not fully addressed the issue.
In this regard, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin urged for the expedited development of a bill for a complete ban on electronic cigarettes. The discussion has been assigned to be completed by July 2025.
The State Duma Health Protection Committee also supported the initiative, emphasizing its importance for safeguarding youth health.
“We generally support this initiative for a complete ban [on vapes] and have repeatedly discussed it, including in the committee… Unfortunately, there are issues related to the financial-economic block. A solution has not yet been found,” stated Committee Chairman Sergey Leonov.
According to him, this step will reduce the harm caused by nicotine-containing products, which remain particularly popular among teenagers. Excise taxes on vapes contribute around 10 billion rubles to the Russian budget, which does not cover the damage, he emphasized.
The State Duma Health Protection Committee also intends to study the impact of non-alcoholic beer and children's champagne on youth health. If their negative effects are proven, legislative measures will also apply to these products, added Sergey Leonov.
“No Smoking Here”
Many countries worldwide are witnessing a trend towards tightening measures regarding vapes. The aim of these initiatives is to protect youth health and combat environmental pollution.
Starting June 1, 2025, the UK will ban the sale of disposable vapes. This decision is linked to the growing popularity of these devices among teenagers. Last year, a quarter of British students aged 11-15 used vapes, with most opting for disposable models.
A similar ban will also come into effect in Kyrgyzstan. The law prohibits the import, sale, and use of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine liquid. Violators face fines of up to $2300, and illegal importation could result in corrective labor or imprisonment.
In Uzbekistan, the issue of banning vapes has been discussed since April 2024. At that time, the Ministry of Health proposed prohibiting their import and sale.
In January 2025, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis resumed discussions on the proposal. The new bill was conceptually approved in its first reading, but amendments may be introduced later.
If the bill is passed, administrative and criminal penalties will be imposed for the sale and import of vapes. However, the ban will not affect tobacco heating systems. The Ministry of Health noted that the initiative aims to protect youth and women from the growing popularity of vapes.
Earlier, Spot reported that $370 million is planned to be attracted to healthcare from abroad.