IT IS NECESSARY TO TIGHTEN MEASURES COUNTERING ILLEGAL TRAFFIC OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS

The Budget ant Financial Markets Committee of the Federation Council discussed current issues of the tobacco industry as well as the measures toward reducing the amount of counterfeit products

In spite of the absence of accurate data, all participants of the tobacco industry and the regulators underline an increase of counterfeit and illegal goods on the tobacco markets.

To combat illegal trafficking of tobacco products, Natalia Isaeva, Deputy Head of FAS Fiscal Control Department highlighted such measures supported by the Antimonopoly Service as:

• harmonizing excise duties in the Russian Federation with the EAEU member-states;

• most rapid adoption of regulatory acts on turnover of innovative nicotine-containing products;

• tightening administrative liability for illegal production and sale of tobacco products.

Deputy Head of FAS Fiscal Control Department pointed out that regulation of the tobacco market and nicotine-containing products needs adjustment. It concerns, for example, introducing integrated industry regulation.

“If we’ll sort out the issue, the market environment will improve considerably. Business will understand the rules of the game and it will be easier to sell products lawfully”, said representative of the Federal Antimonopoly Service.

Natalia Isaeva also stressed that “FAS will continue abiding the principles laid down in the Concept of Countering Tobacco Smoking. The current absence of a possibility for consumers to obtain information about legal goods also is conducive to increasing a share of counterfeit goods. Consumers do not know what they buy, cannot discern legal and illegal products. In our opinion, it is also an aspect that deserves attention”.