Last updated: November 6, 2023

Main Policies

Sale of e-cigarettes

Sale of e-cigarettes

Allowed
Analysis

The import and sale of e-cigarettes is allowed subject to several restrictions including a minimum sales age; location-based sales restrictions; and a ban on internet and vending machine sales.

Main policies

Use in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport

Some Restrictions
Analysis

Because the law establishes that e-cigarettes are to be regulated as other tobacco products, the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited where smoking is prohibited.

The law bans the use of e-cigarettes in an enumerated list of public places, which includes workplaces and public transport. However, specially designated smoking areas or rooms are allowed outside or in isolated buildings and structures that are not part of the main public place facility. There is an exception for airports, in which designated smoking rooms are allowed within the airport in the area designated for checked-in passengers. In addition, smoking is allowed “in the inoperative train cars of trains” and “in the rear part of the decks of river vessels.”

Advertising and promotion (excluding point of sale product display)

Some Restrictions
Analysis

The law bans the advertising of e-cigarettes (and other devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine). However, some promotional activities may escape this ban. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

Sponsorship

Some Restrictions
Analysis

The law bans the sponsoring of tobacco events. However, some sponsorship of individuals, organizations and governments may escape the ban. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

Point of sale product display

Banned
Analysis

The law prohibits the “display and open demonstration of tobacco products and devices for the consumption of tobacco and nicotine” in retail trade. The law permits only the display of a price list for tobacco, devices, and nicotine at point of sale.

Sale of e-cigarettes via the internet

Banned
Analysis

The sale of e-cigarettes and other devices for the consumption of tobacco or nicotine through electronic commerce, which includes the internet, is prohibited.

Flavors (other than tobacco flavor)

Some Restrictions
Analysis

The law prohibits the use of “substances intended to increase the attractiveness” of the product in e-cigarettes. This provision makes the Technical Regulations on Tobacco Products applicable to e-cigarettes and other devices for the consumption of tobacco and nicotine. 

The Technical Regulations prohibit some flavorings, including: Wood stalk of the woody nightshade (Stipites Dulcamarae); Wood of the camphor tree (Lignum Camphorae); Rootstalk of the common polypody (Rhizoma Poiypodii); Herb of the pulegium mint (flea mint) (Нerba Pulegii); Wood of the quassia (Lignum Quassiae); Soap bark (Cortex Quillaja); Tansy herb (Нerba Tanaceti); Rue herb (Нerba Rutae); Stems, leaves, and bark of sassafras (Stipes, Folium, Cortex Sassafratis); Yellow sweet clover (Millilotus officinalis); Tonka bean (Semen Тоncае); Vanilla leaf (Liatris odoratissima); and Woodruff (Asperula odorata). However, many other flavorings, including sugars, menthol, spearmint, spices and some herbs are allowed. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.
 

Specified ingredients/additives

Regulated
Analysis

The law prohibits the use in e-cigarettes (and other devices for tobacco or nicotine consumption) of substances that give the impression of a health benefit, substances associated with vitality, and substances that increase nicotine addiction (facilitate nicotine uptake). Substances that color emissions are also prohibited, as well as substances with properties that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproductive functions in fire-safe form.

Health warnings on product packaging

Required
Analysis

The law requires packaging for e-cigarettes to carry a combined picture and text health warning that occupies at least 65% of the front and back of the package. Devices for the consumption of tobacco or nicotine are also required to carry a combined picture and text health warning that occupies at least 65% of the area of all sides of the package.

Other product packaging and labeling requirements

Required
Analysis

Packaging for e-cigarettes and other devices for the consumption of tobacco or nicotine may not contain misleading terms, descriptors, or symbols, including: “any terms, descriptions, signs, symbols or other designations directly or indirectly giving the impression that a given product is less harmful than another tobacco product”, as well as “information directly or indirectly misinforming the consumer with regard to the harm of a tobacco product, including such words as 'with a low tar content’, 'mild’, 'very mild’, 'soft’, 'extra’, 'ultra’, 'thin’, or words analogous to such words, analogs of such words in foreign languages, as well as analogs of such words translated from foreign languages.”

Maximum nicotine concentration

Required
Analysis

The nicotine concentration in nicotine-containing liquid or a nicotine solution (including in nicotine liquid for electronic system of nicotine delivery, as well as in nicotine liquids in electronic cigarettes) must not exceed 20 mg/ml.

Device requirements

Not Required
Analysis

The law does not address device requirements for e-cigarettes.

Manufacturer/importer disclosures and/or notification requirements

Required
Analysis

The law requires manufacturers to report on testing of contents to the authorized state agency.

Sale of e-cigarettes in vending machines

Banned
Analysis

The sale of e-cigarettes and other devices for the consumption of tobacco or nicotine via vending machines is prohibited.

Location-based sales

Regulated
Analysis

The law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes in a number of locations, including: outside of stationary shopping facilities; in pharmacies; in premises designated for the marketing of children’s products; on territories of the organizations of health care systems, educational organizations, cultural institutions, sports-wellness and sporting structures, health spas and socio-medical institutions; in shopping facilities located at a distance of less than 100 meters from educational, sports and religious organizations, with the exclusion of situations in which a shopping facility is located in the territory of shopping malls (in markets) with a total sales area of more than 1,000 meters and in fairground pavilions.