The deputy of the State Duma spoke about the advantages of licensing the trade in tobacco products

Artem Kiryanov, Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, told Izvestia that the introduction of mandatory licensing of trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products would significantly reduce the volume of illegal trafficking in Russia.

According to him, the share of illegal products now stands at 9.5% among conventional cigarettes and almost 70% in the segment of electronic nicotine delivery systems (EDS). The bill should significantly whitewash the market and reduce the share of illegal trafficking.

"We expect licensing to become a powerful tool specifically for combating counterfeiting. For the first time, licensing will affect the entire chain — from raw materials to the counter. This is the final stage of comprehensive regulation, which includes mandatory labeling of products, as well as increased administrative and criminal liability for violations of the rules. Violators may face not only millions in fines, but also imprisonment for up to five years," Kiryanov said.

As it became known, the deputies of the State Duma at the plenary session adopted in the first reading a bill on mandatory licensing of trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products wholesale and retail. The documents were developed by the Russian Ministry of Finance under the supervision of Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Russian Government.

Read more about the decision taken by the State Duma in the Izvestia article.

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