Methanol has come under turnover fines and suspension.

      The Federal Law No. 147-FZ dated May 25, 2026, has been officially published and has come into force. It introduces amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the main one being the introduction of Article 14.68 "Violation of requirements for the circulation of methanol and methanol-containing liquids." The document delineates responsibility for officials, legal entities, and individuals depending on the nature of the violation.

      For businesses and individual entrepreneurs

      The strictest sanctions are provided for in part 1 of the new article. If an organization or individual entrepreneur engages in the circulation of methanol, but their information is not included in the established register (except in cases where inclusion is not required), then:

      officials face a fine of 500,000 to 1 million rubles or disqualification for 2–3 years;

      legal entities face a fine of no more than 1/5 of the total revenue for the calendar year (or its part preceding the offense), but not less than 3 million rubles — with or without confiscation, or administrative suspension of activities for 60–90 days with or without confiscation.

      Individual entrepreneurs are held liable for all violations under this article as legal entities — this is explicitly stated in the note to Article 14.68.

      Other offenses

      The remaining five parts of Article 14.68 cover specific violations if they do not contain signs of a criminal offense:

      Sale without warning labeling about danger (part 2) → fine: for officials — 30,000–50,000 rubles, for legal entities — 100,000–150,000 rubles (confiscation, including equipment, is possible).

      Violation of storage requirements (part 3) → for officials: 50,000–70,000 rubles, for legal entities: 150,000–200,000 rubles.

      Violation of destruction procedures (part 4) → for officials: 30,000–50,000 rubles, for legal entities: 100,000–150,000 rubles.

      Non-compliance with denaturation requirements (part 5) → for officials: 30,000–50,000 rubles, for legal entities: 100,000–150,000 rubles.

      In parts 3–5, confiscation of methanol and methanol-containing liquids is possible, with or without such confiscation.

      For individuals

      Part 6 of Article 14.68 applies exclusively to citizens. The circulation of methanol and methanol-containing liquids by an individual (if it does not fall under part 1) entails a fine of 30,000–50,000 rubles with confiscation of methanol, methanol-containing liquids, and equipment for producing products using them.

      Related changes

      The law also amends other articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses:

      In Article 14.2 (illegal sale of goods), fines have increased: for citizens — 10,000–15,000 rubles, for officials — 20,000–30,000 rubles, for legal entities — 200,000–300,000 rubles (with or without confiscation).

      Cases under parts 1–5 of Article 14.68 are now considered by judges (changes in Article 23.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

      Protocols can be drawn up by: police — under part 1 (upon direct detection) and part 6, as well as other authorized bodies — under parts 1–5 (paragraph 66 of part 2 of Article 28.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

      Article 28.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses has introduced a basis for administrative investigation — "circulation of methanol and methanol-containing liquids."

      The law was adopted by the State Duma on May 13, 2026, approved by the Federation Council on May 20, 2026, and comes into force on the day of official publication — May 25, 2026.