MOSCOW, August 9 (RAPSI) – The Rostov Region’s lawmakers have submitted to the lower house of Russian parliament a bill banning the sale of snuff and chewing tobacco, according to the State Duma database.

Current legislation bans wholesale and retail distribution only of naswar and snus.

Regional MPs are concerned that all these types of tobacco inflict serious harm to people’s health, an explanatory note to the bill reads.

According to the Russian Health Ministry, snuff and chewing tobacco could be more addictive than cigarettes and cause serious illnesses including cancer and heart diseases.