Russian lawmakers expected to make amendments to anti-tobacco bill banning advertising of tobacco products in printed publications and the Internet beginning in 2013, government official says

Nevin Barich

RUSSIA , November 30, 2012 (RBC News) – Advertising of tobacco products could be prohibited in all mass media, RBC Daily reported today.

Lawmakers are expected to make amendments to the anti-tobacco bill banning advertising of tobacco products in printed publications and the Internet early next year, State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergey Zheleznyak said.

At present, advertisements of tobacco cannot appear on television, radio, transport vehicles, and outdoor structures.

PHD media agency CEO Anastasiya Nikiforova said that tobacco companies spent over RUB 548m (approx. USD 17.60m) on advertising in printed publications in January-September 2012 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, or 2% of total advertising budgets of all printed publications in these cities, according to TNS Media. Tobacco advertising in all media generates about RUB 650m (approx. USD 20.87m) annually, of which Internet advertising accounts for 9%.

According to advertising holding Video International tobacco advertising sales in nationwide printed publications totaled RUB 706.7m (approx. USD 22.69m) in 2011 and RUB 445.4m (approx. USD 14.30m) during the first nine months of this year.

(c) 2012 RosBusinessConsulting

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