Russia Call to Block Over 250 Electronic Cigarette Websites for Protecting Minors’ Health

Artem Metelev, Chairman of the Youth Policy Committee of the State Duma in Russia, announced on his Telegram channel that he has submitted a parliamentary request to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) for the purpose of blocking websites selling vapes and holding their owners accountable.

“I have sent corresponding appeals to the Prosecutor General’s Office and Rospotrebnadzor based on the identification of over 250 internet resources by my team, where vapes are still being sold to children in violation of the law,” he wrote.

Metelev added that, in addition to blocking the companies and individuals involved in vape sales, fines of up to 300,000 rubles are threatened.

Fighting Against Vape Sales

There is growing concern about the sale of vapes and their impact on teenagers. Artem Metelev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy from United Russia, has taken the initiative and submitted a parliamentary request to the Prosecutor General’s Office and Rospotrebnadzor to block websites selling vapes and hold their owners accountable.

Measures of Accountability

In his request, Metelev also proposed strict measures of accountability for the owners and operators of websites selling vapes. In addition to website blocking, fines of up to 300,000 rubles are threatened for entrepreneurs and companies engaged in vape sales.

Taking measures to block websites and impose fines is an essential part of the strategy to combat the sale of vapes to minors. This will help reduce the accessibility of vapes to teenagers and mitigate their negative impact on youth health.

Strengthening Regulation

Metelev emphasizes that this measure aims to strengthen the regulation of electronic cigarette sales and protect the health and rights of minors. It is crucial to prevent young individuals from accessing and using these potentially harmful products, which could have long-term consequences for their well-being.

The sale of electronic cigarettes has been a topic of discussion, and according to the Russian parliamentary newspaper, Metelev has suggested that if existing laws restricting the sale of these products are not adequately enforced, further measures will be reconsidered. This may include introducing requirements for retail stores to obtain licenses, adding an extra layer of control over the distribution of electronic cigarettes.