Since 2015, Russia has been a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. It is an international organization for regional economic integration. It was created for the purpose of comprehensive modernization, cooperation and competitiveness increase of national economies. The EAEU ensures freedom of goods, services, capital and labor movement, as well as the conduct of a coordinated or unified policy in the sectors of the economy. In addition to Russia, the EAEU currently includes the Republic of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The principles of EAEU functioning are in many respects similar to the mechanisms for implementing economic policy in the European Union (EU), in particular in matters of non-tariff regulation. Two regional structures impose requirements on products in terms of their compliance with health and safety standards, regulated in the EU by directives, and in the EAEU by technical regulations. If the manufacturer has managed to prove that his products meet the accepted standards, then it is allowed on the market. Previously, each unit of goods is marked with a special sign (in the EU – this is the CE marking, and in the EAEU – the EAC). It should be noted that from 60% to 80% of the EAEU technical standards are identical to European and international standards.
Based on our experience, we can say that European export-oriented manufacturers are not always aware of the need to bring their products in line with EAEU standards. However, there is such a requirement, and it should not come as a surprise. There are certain rules for importing goods into EU countries. Naturally, there are also rules for the import of goods into Russia or into the territory of other EAEU countries. In both cases, certain permits are required for goods.
The main thing to know is that the procedures for processing these documents are similar and consist of similar steps. Below we have given the main points that will help you understand that in fact there is nothing complicated here.
| Key points | European Union | Eurasian Economic Union |
| Requirements for products and the procedure for processing documents for it are established by special regulatory legal acts. | EU Directives EU Regulations | Technical regulations of the EAEU |
| Compliance of products with established requirements is confirmed in two ways (in two forms) | Certification and Declaration | Certification and Declaration |
| According to the results of the established procedures, permits are issued. | Certificate and Declaration | Certificate of Conformity and Declaration of Conformity |
| The conclusion on the conformity of products to the established requirements is made based on the results of the regulated procedure. | Modules | Certification (declaration) schemes |
| The procedure includes certain steps. | Testing of samples, verification of production, subsequent control of the products for which the document was issued. | Testing of samples, verification of production, subsequent control of the products for which the document was issued. |
| Permits are issued by an authorized organization that has received the right to test certain types of products. | Notified body | Accredited Certification Body |
| Special labeling is applied to verified products. | CE | EAC |
| During the period of validity of the permit document, serial products are subject to inspection control | Analysis of the production. Held once a year. | Includes product testing and / or analysis of the production. In most cases, it is carried out once a year. |
In many respects, even the lists of products for which you need to draw up documents coincide. Below we have given examples of legal acts that can be considered analogues, although there is no mutual ratification.
| Application area | EU | EAEU |
| Machinery and equipment | Directive 2006/42/EC | TR CU 010/2011 |
| Electromagnetic compatibility of technical means | Directive 2014/30/EU | TR CU 020/2011 |
| Restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical engineering | Directive 2011/65/EU | TR EAEU 037/2016 |
| Low voltage equipment | Directive 2014/35/EU | TR CU 004/2011 |
| Wheeled vehicles | EU Regulation No. 661/2009 | TR CU 018/2011 |
| Food products | EU Regulation No. 178/2002 | TR CU 021/2011 |
| Perfumes and cosmetics | EU Regulation No. 1223/2009 | TR CU 009/2011 |
| Light industry products | EU Regulation No. 1007/2011 | TR CU 017/2011 |
| Kids toys | Directive 2009/48/EC | TR CU 008/2011 |
| Pressure equipment | Directive 2014/68/EU | TR CU 032/2013 |
| Explosion-proof equipment | Directive 2014/34/EU | TR CU 012/2011 |
No worries? Nearly!
A certificate or declaration cannot be issued to a foreign company; a request for their receipt can only be initiated by an applicant who is a resident of the EAEU. This means that a foreign manufacturer needs an official representative in Russia. It is a party who will be responsible for the compliance of products with established requirements and receive complaints from consumers if any. All permits are issued in the name of the applicant, and European companies are not the direct owners of their declarations and certificates. Thus, when working with distributors, manufacturers often take a certain risk, giving applicants the right to freely dispose of their products on the market. In addition, you must have complete confidence in the certification body that will certify your products. It is important to choose a reliable contractor who will carry out the procedure according to all the necessary rules. Certificates issued by unscrupulous authorities in violation of established procedures (without sample testing, without control over certified products, etc.) will be revoked by the regulatory authorities. This means that your products will be taken out of the market.
If the certificate is issued for serial production, then during the period of validity of the document, the certification body conducts inspection control with the established frequency. Its purpose is to make sure that the manufactured products still meet the requirements that were confirmed during certification. To do this, experts conduct additional tests of products and check the conditions of its production. If the inspection control is not carried out on time, the controlling authorities will stop the validity of the certificate. This is another reason to carefully choose the performer. You must be sure of its stable operation. If the body that issued the certificate is closed or loses the right to inspect your products, you will urgently have to look for a new certification body so that it takes over the responsibility for inspection control.
High quality and easy procedure with us!
SERCONS has been on the market since 1996. The company employs more than 2,500 qualified experts, specialists and test engineers with specialized education and many years of experience.
SERCONS has been represented in 7 countries: Russia, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, China and Kazakhstan. This means that you can apply to the Russian certification body in your country or the neighbouring one.
The company has its own accredited certification bodies and testing laboratories. This gives us the main competitive advantage – the ability to implement the entire certification process in the “single window” mode.
We provide full project support at every stage, namely:
- Consulting for the selection of technical regulations and certification schemes
- Development of technical documentation
- Selection, import of product samples and their further testing
- Analysis of the state of production
- Submission of the applicant company, a commercially neutral person
- Issuance of a certificate and its registration in the register of the EAEU
- Carrying out periodic inspection control
- Support during the validity of the documents
- Providingauthorizationletters to importing companies
Contact SERCONS for more information.
