Russia Considers Regional Vape Sales Ban

In late 2025, the Russian government began formal efforts to restrict the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems, commonly known as vapes. The initiative was prompted by industry estimates suggesting that only 70% of these products are sold legally within the country.

President Vladimir Putin endorsed a proposal from Gleb Nikitin, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, which would allow individual regions to ban the retail sale of these products on their territory. The Ministry of Finance has already drafted the necessary legislation to support this initiative.

Governor Nikitin has indicated that if the federal law is passed, the ban in his region will be implemented immediately. The government anticipates that experimental enforcement measures could begin as early as 2026. However, the business community opposes these strict limitations, advocating instead for softer measures such as stricter penalties for selling to minors.

The year 2025 marked the beginning of a significant legislative shift regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems in Russia. Authorities initiated work to limit the circulation of these products due to concerns over the legality of current market sales.

According to estimates provided by industry associations, a substantial portion of the market operates outside of legal standards. Specifically, it is believed that no more than 70% of vaping products are sold legally within the Russian Federation.

To address this, the Ministry of Finance has taken the lead in drafting a new law. This legislative move is designed to create the necessary regulatory framework to control the distribution and sale of these devices.

The push for regulation has gained high-level traction through the backing of President Vladimir Putin. He expressed support for an idea proposed by Gleb Nikitin, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The core of Nikitin's proposal is to grant individual regions the autonomy to decide whether to allow the sale of nicotine delivery systems. Specifically, regions would be permitted to introduce a total ban on the retail realization of these products within their specific jurisdictions.

This approach shifts the decision-making power to the local level, allowing regional leaders to respond to local public health concerns and market conditions.

The implementation of these restrictions is expected to follow a specific timeline. While the federal law is still being drafted, officials are already planning for the subsequent steps.

Governor Gleb Nikitin has made a definitive statement regarding the Nizhny Novgorod region's plans. In November 2025, he stated that the ban would be enforced without delay should the federal legislation be enacted.

"У нас это все (вейпы и системы нагревания табака) будет запрещено сразу же, как только примут федеральный закон," Nikitin said. This translates to an immediate prohibition on vapes and tobacco heating systems once the federal law is adopted.

The government anticipates that practical experiments with these new regulations could commence as early as 2026.

Despite the government's firm stance, the business community has voiced strong opposition to the proposed restrictions. Industry representatives argue that a total ban is a drastic measure that could negatively impact the economy.

Instead of prohibiting sales entirely, businesses are proposing a different approach. They suggest starting with more lenient measures that target the root of the problem without banning the product outright.

The primary recommendation from business groups is to focus on enforcement regarding sales to minors. They propose significantly tightening liability for selling nicotine products to those under the legal age, rather than removing the products from the market entirely.