Russia's "six certificates" for vaping!

According to Global Intelligence, Russia’s nicotine production licensing system and minimum price system officially took effect on September 1. In March this year, a bill introducing licensing requirements for the production and circulation of nicotine products was approved at a government meeting. In April, the Russian State Duma, at a plenary session, supported the establishment of minimum retail prices for e-cigarette products with more than 90% of votes in favor. At the core of the policy is a nicotine production licensing system requiring licenses for the production and circulation of tobacco, nicotine products, and raw materials. There are six major license categories in total: raw material production license, product manufacturing license, product import license, raw material import license, cigar production license, and duty-free shop sales license. At the same time, nicotine-containing products may not be sold below the minimum price set for nicotine-containing products. The minimum price is determined in the manner prescribed by the Government of the Russian Federation. Russia’s Federal Law N15-FZ stipulates the minimum retail price (EMCTP) for tobacco products, which serves as the basis for calculating excise tax, VAT, and other taxes levied by the Russian government, and also provides that the retail price of any tobacco product may not be lower than the minimum retail price.

▲ Comment: September officially marked Russia’s entry into the licensing stage. It now requires e-cigarettes to have product manufacturing licenses, product import licenses, duty-free shop sales licenses, and more, and minimum e-cigarette prices have also been set. However, zero-nicotine products do not have a minimum price requirement in Russia.