EXPERTS DISCUSSED AN “ANTI-TOBACCO CONCEPT”

On 20 May 2019, the Expert Council of the Federal Antimonopoly Service for Developing Competition on the Market of Tobacco Products held a meeting at the “Business Russia” National NGO

The agenda focused on a draft Concept of the state policy to counter tobacco consumption in the Russian Federations in 2019 – 2035 гand further and regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Members of the Expert Council presented two alternative concepts and shared experiences of regulating these markets on other countries as well as research findings. Special attention was paid to correlating the concept with the “Demography” National Project. It was pointed out that the concept should be based on a scientific approach to defining mid-term and long-term industry development trends to stimulate development of new products with a reduced risk of harming human health, in order to achieve a national goal by 2050 – build up a tobacco-free generation. As a result, a decision is made to form a Working Group at the Expert Council to refine the draft concept in view of the discussion by 05 June 2019.

At the end of the meeting of the Expert Council, three more companies – “GOOL LABS RU” Ltd., “Viva La Cloud” Ltd. and “Babylon Retail” Ltd. – joined the Public Declaration of Fair Players on the Market of Nicotine-Containing Products. The companies and organizations that signed the Public Declaration undertake voluntary obligations to restrict marketing and sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems, nicotine-containing liquids and products from heated tobacco.

Head of FAS Fiscal Control Department, Vladimir Mishelovin commented:

"It was a professional dialogue between experts who understand the issues of market development, the goals for restricting and reducing consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products and are ready to share responsibility for developing and pursing the national policy in this field".