Russia Reviews Betel Nut Sales on Marketplaces as Rospotrebnadzor Steps In
Regulators moved to scrutinize listings following reports that schoolchildren were buying the psychoactive, cancer‑linked product.
Overview
- Wildberries said an internal sweep found no betel nut on its storefront and it is maintaining reinforced monitoring with ML tools and manual checks.
- Ozon is running additional inspections and is keeping related product pages hidden until sellers prove quality and safety, with sales blocked without proof.
- Rospotrebnadzor placed media reports under official control and notified AKIT to ensure e‑commerce firms prevent remote sales of potentially unsafe goods.
- State Duma member Sultan Khamzaev asked Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova to restrict or ban sales and to consider adding the product to a prohibited list.
- Medical voices including Vitaly Kholdin detailed risks such as dependence and oral cancer, while Alexey Reshetun urged a full sales ban alongside youth education.