The group of senators, led by Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko has prepared a draft law on the distribution of the excise tax on tobacco products in the regional budgets.

Senators propose to send to the federal budget only 85% of tobacco excise taxes, and

the remaining 15% enroll in the regional budgets. It is assumed that the document may enter into force on 1 January 2018.

Tobacco production provides 70% of the total excise tax revenues to the federal budget. In 2016 this figure amounted to 466.9 billion rubles.

"The distribution of revenues from excise taxes on tobacco products is offered in proportion to the number of able-bodied population," - said in a memorandum.

The funds will be directed to the regional budgets, provided that the field will prevent trafficking of cigarettes and cigarettes