Russia Considers Banning E-Cigarettes to Protect Children’s Health

According to the Russian media TASS, Prime Minister Mishustin promised to consider the proposal to ban e-cigarettes put forward by representatives and form a cabinet stance on the issue. On Thursday, the Speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, made the corresponding request to the Prime Minister.

“The government has several issues now, and I would like to get feedback here. One of the issues is a ban on e-cigarettes. Mikhail Vladimirovich, we need to support it, and children need to be saved,” said the Speaker of the Duma. Volodin suggested that the government unite with the representatives on this issue. “Yes, we will consider it, and we will certainly form a position,” Putin replied.

The Prime Minister also asked the Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, to turn on his microphone. “We always support measures to increase life expectancy and reduce harmful factors,” the minister said. As Volodin pointed out, “Children are walking around with these devices, and no one can answer how harmful they are. The Minister of Health supports us, but his voice is inexplicably weak and cannot be heard in the government. The voice of the Ministry of Finance is stronger and more capable because they have money.”

“When it comes to children’s health, everything else, such as how much money can be raised from these e-cigarettes, is inappropriate,” said the Chairman of the State Duma. According to him, everything is banned now regarding the sale of products containing nicotine, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, and waterpipes. Therefore, it is prohibited to use them in public places and to sell them to minors. Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as well as the sale of such products to minors, are also prohibited. The current law prohibits the sale of nicotine products with a nicotine concentration of more than 20 milligrams/milliliter.