The State Duma of Russia has passed the first reading of a bill that will enable the swift blocking of websites and online resources selling cigarettes and vapes without proper authorization.
Despite the current prohibition on remote sales of nicotine products, social media platforms, instant messaging apps, and various websites continue to be the primary channels for illegal trade. These platforms allow sellers to easily circumvent the ban, making tobacco products accessible to minors. Moreover, a substantial portion of the products sold on these sites are counterfeit, including cigarettes without excise duties, fake nicotine liquids, and counterfeit vapes, which pose significant health risks.
The new bill introduces an extrajudicial mechanism for blocking these resources.
- Websites and pages selling nicotine products will be shut down immediately upon the detection of violations.
- Social media and messaging platform owners will be required to monitor content and remove such offers independently.
- The simplified blocking scheme will considerably expedite the fight against illegal trade.
Experts believe that these measures will effectively reduce the volume of the illegal online tobacco market, protecting teenagers from purchasing vapes and cigarettes while also minimizing the circulation of dangerous counterfeit products.
