Russia passes new bill: individuals carrying excess e-cigarettes face fines of up to 25,000 rubles

Russia’s State Duma has passed a bill imposing a fine of up to 25,000 rubles on individuals who illegally carry more e-cigarettes than the permitted limit within the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to a TASS report on September 26, the State Duma approved the bill in its third and final reading at a plenary session, introducing fines of up to 25,000 rubles for individuals who illegally carry more e-cigarettes than the allowed limit within the Russian Federation. 

The draft was introduced in January by deputies from the United Russia party and the Liberal Democratic Party. The new version adds Article 14.531 to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which sets out liability for citizens who illegally transport tobacco products exceeding the established limits within the Russian Federation. This refers to tobacco products without specific markings under Russian law, including goods from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). For such violations, citizens will face a fine of 15,000 to 25,000 rubles and confiscation of the products. 

The new standard provides the same liability for citizens who illegally transport nicotine-containing products within the Russian Federation, which under current standards includes all e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free e-cigarettes and products containing nicotine. Heated tobacco. 

Russia’s law on protecting citizens’ health from environmental tobacco smoke, tobacco use, or the consequences of nicotine use sets restrictions on transporting unmarked tobacco and nicotine-containing products within the Russian Federation. Current rules prohibit citizens from carrying more than 200 cigarettes or heated tobacco products nationwide, or nicotine-containing products with more than 5 units and a total volume of no more than 20 ml.