Russia to block over 250 vape site platforms

Not long ago, the Chairman of the Committee on Youth Policy of the Russian State Duma Artem Metelev (АртёмМетелев) said on social media that he had submitted a request to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (ROSC) to block websites selling e-cigarettes and hold the owners liable in accordance with the law, according to RIA Novosti news reports.

He wrote this:

“Based on the results of the discovery of more than 250 Internet resources by my team, I have submitted the relevant request to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federal Supervisory Authority for the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, due to the fact that these sites illegally continue to sell e-cigarettes to minors.”

Metelev went on to say that in addition to blocking companies and agents engaged in the sale of e-cigarettes, they could also face fines of up to 300,000 rubles (about 24,000 yuan).

He emphasized that the initiative is aimed at strengthening the regulation of e-cigarette sales in order to protect the health and rights of minors.

Prior to this, Metelev said that if the law restricting the sale of e-cigarettes is not enforced, there is a need to revisit the discussion of further strengthening measures, including for requiring retail outlets to obtain a license, according to a news report in the Russian newspaper Parliament.