Russia to strengthen the control of tobacco products and violators will be fined millions of rubles

Russia’s State Duma Committee on Construction and Legislation has adopted a series of bills aimed at strengthening the regulation of the distribution and production of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, INTERFAX.RU reported.

 

One of the bills (310899-8) provides that from March 1, 2024, the production or trade of tobacco products, tobacco products, nicotine-containing products and related raw materials without the corresponding license may face administrative liability.

 

The bill also provides that penalties will be imposed on those directly responsible, who are punished with a fine of 150,000 to 300,000 rubles. As an alternative penalty, it is also possible to be disqualified from operating for two to three years and to confiscate the products, goods, equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products or other items used in the manufacture of said products that have been produced.

 

In accordance with the provisions of the Act, legal entities may be fined from 300,000 to 1 million rubles and may be suspended from business activity for 60 to 90 days at the same time.

 

The bill also provides for an administrative fine of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles for individuals and confiscation of the main technical equipment used in the production of tobacco products, tobacco products, nicotine-containing products and related raw materials that are not registered under the procedure established by Russian law; for office holders, the fine ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 rubles and confiscation of the relevant equipment; for legal entities, the fine ranges from 100,000 to 1,000,000 rubles. The range of penalties is 100,000 to 150,000 rubles and the confiscation of the relevant equipment.

 

In addition, the Committee adopted on Monday a bill (310855-8) that provides for criminal liability for the production, supply, procurement, storage of tobacco products, nicotine-containing products and related raw materials without the appropriate license in large-scale cases.

 

Violations may be punishable under the bill with penalties of 500,000 to 1 million rubles, or up to three years in prison.