Shipping E-cigarettes to Russia
Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Rospotrebnadzor) regulates e-cigarettes under the Federal Law on Tobacco Control. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are legal but require state registration, while non-nicotine devices must meet safety standards.
State registration involves submitting product tests, including toxicity and battery safety assessments, a process that takes 6–12 months. E-liquids must have a maximum nicotine concentration of 20mg/ml, and labels must be in Russian, with warnings such as “Никотин вызывает привыкание” (Nicotine is addictive) and a list of ingredients.
Transporting e-cigarettes to Russia requires compliance with Rosaviatsiya (Civil Aviation Authority) rules for air freight of lithium batteries. Each package must include a declaration of battery capacity, and batteries must be under 100Wh. Sea freight follows IMO regulations, with proper stowage to prevent short circuits.
Customs documentation includes the state registration certificate, a commercial invoice in Russian/English, and a packing list. Russia imposes a 20% VAT on e-cigarettes, plus a 15% customs duty. Note that Russia bans e-cigarette advertising, so avoiding including promotional materials in shipments is important. Additionally, ensuring e-liquids do not contain prohibited substances like diacetyl is crucial.