The Russian government did not support the bill on the introduction of fines for parents for smoking their children. The author of the initiative, United Russia deputy Artyom Metelev, was asked to work out the necessary changes within the framework of a similar bill already supported by deputies of the LDPR faction. Instead, Mr. Metelev completely abandoned the idea of punishing the parents of smokers — even though the Ministry of Health and Rospotrebnadzor advocated it.
Artyom Metelev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, spoke about the draft law he developed aimed at tightening anti-smoking legislation in his Telegram channel in May. He proposed to increase fines for smoking in the wrong places to 15 thousand rubles, and on playgrounds — up to 30 thousand rubles.
The document also discussed the introduction of a new sanction — a fine for parents in the amount of up to 7 thousand rubles for smoking children under 16 years old.
Mr. Metelev clarified that for this it is necessary to adjust the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The current legislation, we note, establishes a fine for parents for drinking alcohol and drug use by children. According to Article 20.22 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation, the sanction ranges from 1.5 thousand to 2 thousand rubles.
The initiative, Mr. Metelev noted, also includes a ban on the sale of vapes in pavilions, an increase in fines for non-compliance with restrictions on the sale of nicotine-containing products, the establishment of criminal liability for the re-sale of tobacco to minors and limiting the list of permissible flavorings. "The vape mafia is not going to comply with the laws and continues to profit from the health of children. Neither the dialogue, nor the inspections of shops, nor the increase in fines are effective," he stated.
On Monday, it became known that the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and Rospotrebnadzor supported the bill. The medical department was unable to comment on this decision by Kommersant.
At the same time, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Rosalkogoltabakkontrol and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation criticized the initiative. The government of the Russian Federation, noting that the concept of tightening anti-smoking legislation deserves attention, recommended Artyom Metelev to work out the necessary changes within the framework of a similar bill that has already been supported (the document was supported with the condition of its completion), multiplying fines for re-selling cigarettes, vapes, and other tobacco products to children. The bill was submitted to the State Duma by a group of deputies of the LDPR faction headed by the head of the faction Leonid Slutsky. According to the initiative, fines can amount to 200 thousand rubles. for citizens, up to 400 thousand rubles. for officials and up to 800 thousand rubles. for companies.
However, by the evening of July 8, it became known that Artyom Metelev decided to abandon the idea of fining his parents altogether. "After additional study, it was decided to exclude fines for parents from the updated text of the bill," Mr. Metelev said (quoted by TASS).- In the next edition, which we are continuing to work on, this norm will not be."
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