Russia's Innovative Tracking Technology Earns WHO Praise in Tobacco Control

The WHO has praised Russia for its leadership in fighting illegal tobacco thanks to its innovative digital tracking system which significantly curtailed the illegal tobacco trade and enhanced market transparency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Russia as a global leader in the fight against illegal tobacco. This acknowledgment came during the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) held in Panama from February 5 to 10.

“Russia has been listed among the countries with policies that offer the greatest protection to their citizens from the harms of tobacco,” the head of the delegation, Deputy Minister of Health Mr. O. Salagay, said.

The recognition stems from the implementation of the world's first state Digital Track and Trace system, known as Chestny ZNAK. The system tracks each cigarette pack in real-time, from the point of production to final consumption. This prevents illegal products from entering the market.

The technology relies on digital codes in the Data Matrix format assigned to each pack. This code contains information including production point, date, expiration, and licensing documents. The information is updated at every stage of the product's lifecycle until final sale. Illegal products are flagged by cash registers in stores, making them impossible to sell.

To empower citizens and enhance transparency, a sophisticated mobile application has been introduced. This application allows users to verify the legality of various products, including tobacco and 16 other categories such as pharmaceuticals, dairy, footwear, and photographic equipment. Currently, 18 million users utilize this app, resulting in a significant 25% reduction in illegal tobacco within the initial year of the system's implementation. Furthermore, 18 tobacco production facilities have been legalized, while 45 illegal ones were shut down.

The system has also yielded positive outcomes in other sectors, with a 12-fold decrease in substandard dairy products, a 20% reduction in the illegal perfume trade, more than a two-fold decrease in the illicit tire market, and the discovery of 450 new water producers who began operating legally, representing over 25% of the market.

The authorities estimate the tax impact of the system to be nearly 500 billion rubles ($5.5 billion) and expect this figure to at least triple by 2025.