Russia Plans To Revise Electronic Cigarette Packaging Standards And Add Health Warning Labels

Russia plans to revise electronic cigarette packaging standards and add health warning labels

The Technical Regulations and Metrology Service of the Russian Federation plans to strengthen packaging regulations for electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and plans to revise relevant national standards to require health risk warnings to be indicated on packaging.

According to a report by PNP on October 13th, Anton Sharaev, the director of the Russian Federal Service for Technical Regulations and Metrology (Rosstandart), recently stated that the agency is preparing to increase requirements for packaging of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products to reduce their appeal to young people.

Last week, Anton Solovyev, a member of parliament from St. Petersburg, submitted a request to the department stating that despite regulations prohibiting the packaging design of such products to resemble fruits and children's toys, some manufacturers still evade regulations by using bright colors.

The director pointed out that this national standard on packaging was introduced as early as 2018, when the consumption of electronic cigarettes surged in the absence of other regulations. He suggested that packaging could include hazard labels for the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, similar to cigarette boxes. He stated that the authorities are willing to actively cooperate with lawmakers to promote this measure, and he believes there is no reason not to implement it.

It is worth noting that Russia stipulates that each pack of cigarettes must have the main health warning message "Smoking is deadly" printed on one major side, occupying no less than 30% of the side area. On the opposite side of the packaging, one of the other health warning signs must be printed, occupying no less than 50% of the surface area.