Russian Committee Recommends Adding E-Liquid to Strategic Goods List, Smugglers Could Face Seven Yea

Russia is considering imposing a prison sentence of three to seven years for smugglers of e-liquids, with e-liquids potentially being classified as strategic necessities, leading to severe penalties for smugglers.

According to a report by TASS on November 27, the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council of Russia has recommended a prison sentence of three to seven years for those smuggling e-liquids. 

The Russian newspaper Izvestia cited a letter from senators to presidential aide Maxim Oreshkin.

E-liquids are recommended to be included in the list of strategically important goods. In addition to imprisonment, fines for smuggling strategically important goods can reach up to 1 million rubles. 

Senator Andrey Kutepov emphasized to Izvestia after signing the letter that all goods illegally imported from the Eurasian Economic Union are not considered smuggling and do not fall under the provisions of Russian criminal law.

Therefore, they decided to include cigarettes and alcohol in the list of strategically important goods in 2024, as the regulations for smuggling these goods also apply to cross-border activities. Kutepov insisted that, like cigarettes, e-liquids also need to be added to the list of strategically important goods. 

By 2024, the excise tax on e-liquids will reach 42 rubles per milliliter, increasing to 44 rubles per milliliter in 2025 and 46 rubles per milliliter in 2026. The current tax rate is 20 rubles per milliliter. 

Kutepov stated, "When the excise tax doubles and permits for imports from third countries begin in 2024, the main illegal goods will be directly transferred to the open borders with Kazakhstan and, to a lesser extent, Belarus." 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has informed Izvestia that they have not yet received this initiative from the Federation Council.