Russia publishes list of books requiring marking due to drug references

© изображение сгенерировано ИИ

The Russian Book Union has published an industry list of literary works that must receive special labeling due to references to narcotic substances. The decision comes in line with new legislative requirements taking effect on March 1, 2026.

The amendments were introduced to the law "On Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances" and apply to literary and artistic works published since August 1, 1990. Books will be labeled if they contain information about methods of manufacturing, storing, transporting, acquiring, using, or selling narcotic substances, provided that such information is justified by the genre and is part of the artistic intent.

In addition to the labeling requirements, the law stipulates the creation of an official list of works subject to these new rules. The industry has noted that the practical application of these norms has proven complex and requires uniform approaches for publishers and distributors.

The Russian Book Union previously proposed exempting previously published works from the requirements and creating a list only for new books after the law comes into force. However, this initiative did not gain support.

As a result, the union, in collaboration with book market participants, developed its own industry list, which will be used by publishers, bookstore chains, online retailers, and libraries to ensure uniform application of the law. The list is publicly available and will be regularly updated.

Books are included in the list at the initiative of the publisher. The basis for inclusion is confirmation that the content of the work meets the criteria established by the Ministry of Digital Development (MinTsvet). If bookstores or libraries have doubts about a particular publication, they can request verification from the rights holder, who is obligated to conduct a check and, if necessary, add the book to the list.

It is expected that the list will be continuously updated, with new entries planned to be added weekly.