In order to control the number of points of sale and prevent illegal trade, the Russian government plans to establish a register of cigarette retailers, while strengthening supervision and cracking down on illegal business.
According to Kommersant on November 22, the government of Nikita Kuznetsov, head of the Department of Domestic Market Development at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is considering the creation of a register of retailers selling cigarette goods at a roundtable on “regional tobacco product markets.”
According to Kuznetsov, the move is conducive to controlling the total number of cigarette sales points and preventing illegal trade.
- “We should take this seriously and discuss the retail market so that we can have the final verified number of sales outlets and list and then sell the relevant products.”
In addition, he stressed that in addition to registers, tobacco sales activities should be avoided.
Artem Kiryanov, deputy chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the State Duma, noted that “nine times out of ten, there are major violations” when inspecting shops selling cigarettes.
JTI’s Roman Troshkin, head of government affairs for Russian companies, said that currently, 57 percent of illegal goods come from EAEU China.
From September 1, 2023, Russia began to implement the electronic license registration of tobacco products. From March 1, 2024, the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Market Regulatory Authority will be responsible for monitoring the production and circulation of tobacco, combating business violations, and overseeing compliance in the supply, procurement, and transportation of products.
