MOSCOW, May 26 (RAPSI) – A bill envisaging to impose an excise duty on orally consumed nontobacco nicotine-containing products, the so-called nicotine packs, had been submitted to Russia’s government for review, its author First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Sergey Katasonov told RAPSI.

According to the MP, a complex regulation of turnover of new nicotine-containing products and stuff is to primarily be carried out as a measure of state control over the market.

Citing foreign experience Katasonov said that nicotine packs, on condition they are subjected to reasonable restrictions of technical nature and all necessary restrictions across the models of tobacco products, are a viable alternative to smoking. Therefore, the time has already come to consider how the production and sales thereof are to be subjected to state control; the introduction of an excise duty on such products is the first logical step in this direction, as this measure has already been extended on the whole range of tobacco products.

The requirements pertaining to nicotine packs are to be developed at the level of the Eurasian Economic Union the MP noted adding that some countries have already set forth all necessary state requirements as to the production, import and sales thereof.

A vigorous effort is being made as concerns the development of anti-tobacco legislation across all member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as at the level of the Eurasian Commission, according to Katasonov. At all levels regulators are getting ready to take control over the turnover of numerous new products containing nicotine, from electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products to nicotine packs, as well as foods. The task those determining necessary control measures face is to decide which of them require state regulation and which irreparably harm health and need to be altogether banned, the lawmaker noted.

At present, the State Duma Public Health Committee is studying a complex bill envisaging massive changes in Russia’s anti-tobacco legislation. Among the amendments are those seeking to give heat-not-burn tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) the same status as that of tobacco products, as well as to set forth the rules governing the turnover of nicotine packs.

The document has been approved by the lower house of Russia’s parliament in the first reading and is being readied for the second reading, according to the MP.