Russian doctors seek nationwide vape ban as 17 regions restrict sales

Seventeen Russian regions now restrict vape sales, but doctors are seeking a complete federal ban because online sales and products brought from neighboring regions continue. The company “Right to Health” plans to send a package of proposals to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on 23 November 2026, according to Forbes.ru.

What does the federal proposal cover?

The proposal covers more than e-cigarette devices. It seeks a ban on vapes and heated tobacco systems. It also calls for authorities to “block sales websites” and for stronger controls over illegal trade. Those elements answer the two distribution channels doctors cited: internet sales and supply from neighboring regions.

The medical case rests on joint research by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) and Right to Health on vaping’s impact on health and everyday life. Eleven doctors from different specialties took part. According to the joint study, most supported a “complete ban on electronic cigarettes across Russia.” The panel’s position supports a federal approach rather than local rules.

What changes on 1 March 2027?

Russia already has a legal route for tighter regional controls. In June 2026, President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing regions to impose five-year bans on sales of vapes, refill liquids and other electronic nicotine-delivery systems. Regional governments can use that power from 1 March 2027.

That framework reaches stores only in regions that activate the option. The doctors’ demand targets a different mechanism: a federal rule intended to close routes for prohibited products moving between regions or through online channels. The proposal also covers heated tobacco systems, extending beyond vapes and refill liquids alone.

What does Kazakhstan show about enforcement?

Kazakhstan offers a caution about what a ban can and cannot deliver. Since 20 June 2024, the country has prohibited production, sale and distribution of vapes, flavorings and liquids for them, with criminal liability for violations. Yet the products did not leave the market. Trading moved underground, and sellers continued using anonymous internet accounts and courier delivery.

Financial Monitoring Agency data show the scale of the enforcement response. In response to a BES.media request, the agency said law enforcement had seized more than 327,000 vapes worth over 1.6 billion tenge during an incomplete 2026 reporting period. The figures measure seizures, not total illegal sales, but confirm continued circulation after the June 2024 ban.

What consumer risks remain after a ban?

The Kazakhstan case identifies two consumer risks. Underground sellers make it practically impossible to control the quality and composition of vape liquids. Bans can also redirect teenagers toward Telegram channels that generally do not verify buyers’ ages, potentially increasing access rather than reducing it.

For Russian retail, the compliance test therefore extends beyond removing products from shelves. Authorities would need to police websites, courier-based distribution and the informal supply chain as well as physical stores. The package planned for 23 November 2026 joins those enforcement issues in one federal proposal.

Earlier Kursiv reporting noted that singer Selena Gomez damaged her voice through electronic-cigarette use. The anecdote offers a public-health example, not market data or a forecast for Russia. The immediate policy debate has three measurable anchors: 17 regional restrictions, 11 participating doctors and a federal submission planned for 23 November 2026.