New developments in alcohol and drug policy of the Russian Federation Evgeniya A. Koshkina, Doctor of Medicine, Full Professor Deputy Director for Science Moscow Research and Practical Center on Addictions, Moscow Department for Public Health September 2017 Stockholm

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation On August 26, 2017, three new Federal Laws came into force: 1. Federal Law of July 26, 2017 No. 203-FZ "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation." The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is supplemented with new articles "Illicit production and (or) turnover of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and alcohol-containing products" and "Illegal retail sale of alcohol and alcohol-containing food products". In particular, it provides for toughening of responsibility for the use and sale of counterfeit excise stamps - imprisonment for up to 8 years. Forgery of excise stamps is punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 years.

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation On August 26, 2017, three new Federal Laws came into force: 2. Federal Law No. 278-FZ of July 29, 2017 "On Amendments into the Federal Law “On State Regulation of the Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol and Alcohol-Containing Products and on the Limitation of Consumption (Drinking) of Alcohol Products” and certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.“ In particular, a ban on the retail sale of alcohol-containing food products, including distance sales, as well as alcohol-containing non-food products using vending machines is introduced.

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation On August 26, 2017, three new Federal Laws came into force: 3. Federal Law of July 29, 2017 N 265-FZ "On Amendments to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses in Part of Strengthening Liability for Illegal Sale of Alcohol Products."

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation On March 31, the provisions of Federal Law No. 261-FZ of July 3, 2016 came into force, providing for: The introduction of a new license for entrepreneurs engaged in the retail sale of alcohol in the provision of catering services; The ban on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in the provision of catering services in buildings, structures, facilities, premises owned and used by educational, medical and sports institutions. Also on March 31 came into force the Order of the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation, according to which sellers of any alcohol should use cash registers.

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation In April 2017, the State Duma established a working group to improve legislation on the application of measures of a medical nature to patients with alcoholism. In August 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a bill banning the production and circulation of dry alcohol on the territory of the Russian Federation.

New developments in the anti-alcohol policy of the Russian Federation In July 2017, the relevant State Duma committee drafted a bill on the compulsory treatment of persons with a confirmed diagnosis of alcohol addiction. The document was aimed both as a supplement to the punishment for administrative and criminal offenses, and as a protective measure for alcohol-addicted persons, as well as members of their families.

Problem of cross-border trade in alcoholic beverages Cross-border trade in alcoholic beverages implies 2 types of trade: Purchase of alcoholic beverages spirits in foreign online stores; Transportation of alcoholic beverages across the customs border by individuals.

The problem of online alcohol trading In accordance with the current legislation, the sale of alcoholic beverages via the Internet in the Russian Federation has been banned since 2007. At present, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance have prepared proposals for the resumption of such trade, against which the Ministry of Health is advocating. The issue of the resumption of trade is still under discussion.

The norms for transporting alcoholic beverages to the territory of Russia In accordance with the Customs Code, at the crossing of the customs border of the Russian Federation, the norm of carrying any alcoholic beverage at the rate of 3 liters per person over 18 years is established. Another 2 liters can be transported by paying the appropriate duty (10 € / liter). The frequency of crossing the border is not regulated, however, if suspecting that goods are moved for commercial purposes, customs has the right to confiscate these alcohol products.

Possible changes Currently, within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia) there is a discussion of proposals to reduce the rate of personal transportation of alcoholic beverages to 3 liters per person.

New developments in the drug policy of the Russian Federation The Minister of the Interior of Russia Vladimir Kolokoltsev has been appointed Chairman of the State Anti-Drug Committee. At the SAC meetings, proposals were considered to adjust the State Drug Policy Strategy; the methodology and procedure for monitoring the drug situation in the Russian Federation and its subjects was approved. Also discussed were draft amendments to federal laws related to increased liability for illegal propaganda and advertising of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as delaying the serving of punishment by convicts, who were for the first time sentenced to imprisonment for a certain category of crimes.

New developments in the drug policy of the Russian Federation Within the framework of the SAC, the following interdepartmental working groups have been established: Interdepartmental working group on monitoring of the drug situation in the Russian Federation; Interdepartmental working group on the evaluation of the effectiveness of anti-drug commissions in the subjects of the Russian Federation; Interdepartmental working group on prevention of illegal consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

New developments in the drug policy of the Russian Federation The Council on the problems of drug abuse prevention under the Federation Council, discussed problems and prospects for the establishment and development of rehabilitation centers for drug addicts in the system of complex rehabilitation and resocialization, as well as matters concerning prevention of drug addiction in educational facilities. The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted Law No. 174-FZ of July 18, 2017 on the deprivation of allowances for laid-off servicemen who failed to pass drug testing.

New developments in the drug policy of the Russian Federation The State Duma passed Law No. 491-FZ of December 28, 2016, authorizing courts to grant a deferment of punishment to drug addicts. It concerns the patients who first received a term of imprisonment for drug-related crimes, for example, for illegal storage, manufacturing without the purpose of selling narcotic and psychotropic drugs, illegal forgery of documents giving the right to acquire drugs and psychotropic substances.

New developments in the drug policy of the Russian Federation Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 22, 2017 No. 520-r approved the "Concept for the development of the system for the prevention of neglect and juvenile delinquency", which, inter alia, addresses the prevention of drug addiction. 32 narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as one narcotic plant were added to the List of prohibited substances, approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation.

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