Regions in Russia to have the opportunity to prohibit vape sales

The Russian Ministry of Health has called for additional anti-smoking measures, but it has not advocated for a complete ban on vaping products. This stance remains uninfluenced by several proposals and laws, including those suggesting a nationwide ban, regional bans, and increased fines for selling vaping products to minors.

In late 2024, a group of deputies from the Communist Party faction introduced a bill in the State Duma to ban vaping product sales nationwide. However, the Ministry of Health has not followed suit, instead urging a comprehensive approach, not just restrictions on vaping.

Governor Gleb Nikitin proposed giving Russian regions the right to impose a full ban on vaping product sales, but the Ministry's stance remains unchanged. Similarly, the Ministry's position does not seem to be influenced by the proposal from Vladimir Putin to test a complete ban on the sale of smoking substitutes in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The initiative aims to protect public health, with the Ministry describing vaping as a threat. However, it has not introduced a bill to ban vaping product sales nationwide, unlike the Communist Party faction.

In early June, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov called for a full vaping ban in Russia. Yet, the Ministry of Health's stance differs from this proposal. The Ministry has not been influenced by the moratorium on unplanned inspections contributing to weak oversight of vaping product sales in Russia either.

Currently, selling vaping products and e-liquids to minors is prohibited in Russia. In February 2025, Vladimir Putin signed a law increasing fines for such sales to 2 million rubles. This law, too, has not swayed the Ministry's stance on vaping.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that most deputies support a full vaping ban. However, the Russian Ministry of Health continues to push for a comprehensive approach rather than a total ban.

The Kamchatka region in Russia is expected to be tested as a pilot project for the complete ban on the sale of smoking substitutes. It remains to be seen how this pilot project will impact the Ministry's stance on vaping in the future. For now, the Ministry continues to advocate for a balanced approach to vaping regulation in Russia.