2FIRSTS | Special Report｜Russia scales back anti-vaping drive, limits ban to single-region trial
Russia is now considering a single-region trial for a vaping ban after scaling back plans for a nationwide prohibition due to economic concerns.Summary
Russia has significantly altered its approach to vaping regulation, moving away from a proposed nationwide ban towards a limited trial in a single region. This policy shift follows considerable debate within the government and strong opposition from business groups, who warned of potential economic damage and a surge in illegal trade. Lawmakers now aim to assess the impact of restrictions in a controlled environment before considering broader implementation. While a complete ban has lost momentum, regulators are still pursuing tighter packaging and design rules to reduce the appeal of vapes to young people. The decision comes after similar restrictive measures in other countries, like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, led to the growth of black markets. The proposed regional experiment, potentially in Nizhny Novgorod, is seen as a compromise and a more pragmatic approach to evaluating the effectiveness of vaping restrictions.
(Source：2Firsts)
