The expert commented on the decision of the State Commission to ban vapes in Russia.

The decision of the State Commission for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Industrial Products to ban vaping is a fundamentally important step in protecting the health of citizens. Ekaterina Leshchinskaya, chairman of the Healthy Fatherland movement, told Izvestia on March 26.

"The decision of the State Commission is a long—awaited and fundamentally important step in protecting the health of citizens. The Healthy Fatherland movement systematically raises the issue of the need for a complete ban on vaping. Earlier, we officially appealed to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with a request to consider introducing a complete ban as a measure aimed at preventing large-scale damage to the health of citizens and the demographic potential of the country. Today we see that this position finds support at the level of the highest state authorities," she said.

Leshchinskaya added that according to expert estimates, if the current rate of smoking continues, the additional burden on the healthcare system may reach 500 billion rubles annually.

Tobacco apart: the ban on the sale of cigarettes and vapes near bus stops will be postponed

The business will be given six months to adapt to the new conditions.

Earlier that day, it became known that the State Commission for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Industrial Products supported the initiative to completely ban the production, import and turnover of electronic cigarettes and vapes in Russia, as well as liquids for them.

Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, stressed that the ban on vaping in the Russian Federation is long overdue. He added that parents are sounding the alarm, as the age of vaping consumption is decreasing.

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