Federal budget losses from illicit tobacco trafficking in the Southern Federal District exceeded 4.8 billion rubles in the first quarter of 2024. Including the damage from shadow trade in the Krasnodar Territory amounted to 1.6 billion rubles, in the Rostov region — 1.2 billion, in the Crimea — 0.9 billion, in Adygea — 0.1 billion rubles. This was stated by Irina Bushina, Director of the ANO "National Scientific Center of Competencies in the field of combating illicit trafficking in industrial products" during a round table on illicit trafficking in tobacco products. The event was held by Kommersant-Kuban.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Krasnodar Territory, 2.6 million packs of unmarked tobacco products were seized from illicit trafficking in 2024, while in 2023 this figure amounted to 1.8 million packs.
"Since the beginning of the year, the territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor have carried out 2.8 times more unscheduled events than in the same period of 2023. Violations of mandatory requirements were detected in 95% of cases, which confirms the effectiveness of risk—based inspections," said Andrey Meshkov, Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Labeling of Goods and Legalization of Product Turnover of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
"Consumers want to be sure that they are consuming a quality product. Regulators are concerned that the treasury should be replenished with tax deductions so that the market is understandable and economically efficient. From a business point of view, illegal trafficking distorts the competitive environment," Alexander Polidi said.
The expert recalled that in September, deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Rostov region appealed to the State Duma with a proposal to transfer part of the revenue from tobacco excise taxes to the regions. A positive decision would provide additional revenues to regional budgets.
Roman Troshkin, JTI Russia's Government Relations Manager, agreed with the economist. He believes that the transfer of a part of the revenue from excise taxes to the subjects would serve as an incentive for the regional authorities to prioritize the task of countering the illegal turnover of tobacco products in their region. "At the same time, it is necessary to give subjects additional powers to control retail," the expert added.
According to Roman Troshkin, in order to clear the market, it is necessary to intensify law enforcement practices on earth, in particular, on the part of the RPN and the FCS (control purchases, raids on the seizure of illegal products in wholesale markets, seizure of contraband products at customs posts, etc.), as well as on the part of the new RATK (Rosalkogoltabakkontrol) body controlling the tobacco market as part of the implementation of his powers established by the law on state regulation of the tobacco market.
It is also necessary to introduce a ban on online trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products. "Such a tool works effectively with alcohol, it should be introduced into the tobacco sector," the expert stressed.
Source: