Declaration of conformity Gost R, Sanitary certificate of Custom Union and export of wine to Russia

In the figure, it is possible to observe how the wine exports to Russia between 2007 and 2010, are extensive and come from many countries. For this reason it is essential that producers-exporters worldwide were aware of what are the steps needed to export wine to Russia.
Since this is a blog dedicated to the GOST R for Russia is obviously in our interest to focus on the certification system in force for trading wine (like any other drink containing alcohol). First it is necessary to specify that the required certificates for wine, wine products and other alcoholic beverages are not discriminative measures of the Russian Federation with the aim of hindering the import of not domestic products, but are directed to any product that aims to end up on the shelves of Russian stores.

Two certification process should be dealt with: the first is obtaining the declaration of conformity GOST R and the subsequent registration of the alcoholic  products  in the Russian Federation in accordance with federal law. This phase is relatively simple, are usually required one or two days, and its validity that may vary, according to the customer requirements, from single delivery and 5 years.
The second phase of certification instead is more laborious and costly it is to obtain the Health certification EurAsEC Customs Union. As already discussed on this blog before, the health certificate EurAsEc has a validity that extends beyond Russia, also to Kazakhstan and Belarus and above all is not burdened by expiry as it does GOST certificates for Russia in general.
The Health Certification of the Union includes a series of tests and inspections directly to products and packaging with the aim of ensuring security and clarity for consumers.

Gost R and Russian regulation for forniture

The certification for furniture, as regard to the mandatory Gost standard fortrade in Russia, implies the presence of different types of possible documents. First, it is mandatory, the presence of the declaration of conformity with characteristics of which it has already been written in the post on the GOST R certification for clothing on sale in Russia, in conjunction with this, you can request the certificate GOST R volunteer with the task to provide to these products further proof of quality and safety.

At the moment, we find the difference most marked among the office furniture, for which is available only voluntary Gost R certificate, and all other types of furniture which, in addition to voluntary GOSTR certification, as stated above, shall face the procedures for obtaining the several times mentioned declaration of conformity.
The furniture used in residential and public, will be subjected to the tests necessary to verify the compliance of the requirementsof GOST 16371-93 GOST19917-93 and while the furniture designed to the areas of education (schools, libraries and universities ) must demonstrate compliance to the standard according to the requirements listed in the GOST 22046-89, GOST 19917-93and GOST 16371.

The certificate of conformity GOST R volunteer is available for a maximum period of 3 years. While the declaration of conformity can be requested for a maximum period of 5 years.
Another group of furniture, of smaller entities, however, is that to which belong all products intended for use in structures that require high standards of hygiene and health such as: hospitals, laboratories and food processing areas . In this case, the sanitary certificate (ex-Russian hygienic certificate) of the customs union EurAsEC (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) is necessary, which must then be issued to the appropriate test from Rospotrebnadzor. The sanitary certificate has the fortunate characteristic of having no expiration limit as all other certificates in Russia and to be valid throughout the union.
The last small group of furniture is to be noted in the furniture designed specifically for children, for them, the requirements of the certificate of conformity GOST R is not only voluntary but a Gost certificate is required.

The mandatory and voluntary certification GOST R for clothing and accessories

One of the products more exported to Russia is definitely clothing in this regard a detailed regulation is in force within the Russian Federation, created to guarantee safety and quality of clothes and clothing accessories in circulation on its market .This article will give you the basic knowledge to be able to orientate in this passage for the export of yourproducts to Russia.

• The certification for clothing in Russia:
• The mandatoryand voluntary certification GOST R forclothing and accessories,
• The declaration and registration of clothes,
• The certification tests and how to obtain certification according to the GOST standard system.

Russian certification for clothing: the procedures for obtaining a certificate of conformity GOST R for Russia for the various types of clothing are divided between clothing for adults and children's clothing.
Originally certification for adult clothing was subject to the procedural regime of conformity compulsory GOST, but today certain types of clothes for adults require the declaration of conformity GOST. Among these we have sewed clothes for men and women, coats and suits, knitwear, linen and bathing suits, stockings and tights, scarves and hats, gloves and fur. Accessories are subject to certificate of compliance in different forms, as determined by the relevant measure of the Government of the Russian Federation.
GOST R Declaration of Conformity: This document establishes the conformity of a product with the requirements of the regulations. It differs little in effect from the certificate of conformity, is a declarative instrument and legally binding. If you prefer, you can, together with the declaration, apply for a certificate of conformity GOST R depending on the voluntary willingness of the manufacturer or importer. During the inspection of sales of the commercial organization by the supervisory authorities, the presence of certification on clothing is tightly controlled. At the time of importation of clothes within the boundaries of Russian customs, it is obligatory to show the declaration of conformity GOST R.

Mandatory or voluntary the certification for clothing is carried out following the same procedures, with the only difference of the document issued. The information, description of production and safe limits for certificate anddeclaration GOST Standard are the same. At the base of issue of the conformity and the declaration we find the testing protocol performed at anaccredited test laboratory, the documents proving the harmlessness of the production and documentation provided by the manufacturer. An important clarification is due, what distinguishes the Declaration of conformity from the other GOST R certificates, is that the first in fact can only be achieved on the basis of request made by a person registered in the Russian Federation, is therefore notpossible for a person foreigner (whether natural or legal person) require the issuance of the declaration in autonomy for their products.

They were in fact in general the Russian importers to request the declaration in place of the manufacturer and then deliver it allowing him to use it even in subsequent occasions. This pattern of work is no longer possible and every importer must request the declaration of conformity of the goods regardless of whether the Gost declaration had been issued for another client, but for the same manufacturer.
Certification "Gost standards" is required for clothing designed for children: the certification for children's clothing is a mandatory conformity GOST R. In order to be able to circulate in the Russian market all types of clothing for children must have a certificate of conformity and in addition they must pass the tests carried out by the sanitary-epidemiological experts of Rospotrebnadzor, which until 30 June2010 gave the certificate of compliance with sanitation regulation and that now is included in the legislation of the sanitary certificate of the customs union. Clothing will be subject to more complex procedures in case they are underwear, hosiery and hats for the summer, and will be subject to a simple report in other cases.

The law provides several options for obtaining the certificate of conformity GOSTR for clothing children, the certificate can be issued to the producer or thecustomer. The maximum duration of certification is 3 years.


The procedures for verification of compliance, both for the statement that the certificate include:

• Laboratory tests on samples of production
• Examination of documents submitted by the applicant
• Direct issuance of the certificate of conformity or declaration of conformity

For the calculation of labor costs associated with certification of clothes youshould consider:

• List of products include the indication of the raw materials used to manufacture
• Following the agreement on price and volume of work certificate for clothing, you select the samples for testing
• Samples of the product once selected, are sent to the laboratory accredited for the tests laid down by law
• The testing protocol is completed and becomes the basis for issuing the requested certificate.

Gost R certificate and Rostechnadzor issues and questions

I wish to note here on this blog, which is enabled our forum dedicated to the certification for Russia Gost born a few months ago with the express purpose to respond and make known to all the operators concerned on the current certification system in Russia.

We think that at this point, internationally, with regard to the situation of Russian bureaucracy and business, legends have obscured the reality. So even though we realize that the entry into the Russian market is not among the easiest and present legislative or no legislative barriers, we would like to give you a clearer and less bleak picture of the situation.

We think that knowledge are necessary to trade in Russia, not only with regard to the certificate Gost and Gost R but also to such things as customs, we wish you can avoid wasting your money on bureaucracy moreover if is not even required and control prices that sometimes come to be disturbing.

For these reasons and especially because ignorance is more expensive and less rewarding good on the market, we hope to help resolve all your doubts, at least the most general and least interesting for the whole community of producers and traders.

The first Gost Standard Certifificate

In the USSR the problem of production standardization was faced only a few years after its founding. The first GOST certificate at the time called OST was issued on 7 May 1926 in response to the request before revealed a year by the Council of People's Committees through the creation of the first committee for the standardization of the Soviet Union.
The first dealt with GOST Agriculture and bore the name "Wheat: selection of varieties." After this first GOST certificate many others followed, a large structure consisting of more than 300 certificates were made during the next three years dealing with all the basic subjects of economics, certified standards were made for bread, salt, cooking oil and matches as well as for various materials essential for industry such as cotton, oil, chemicals and steel.
The first decade of the GOST standard was characterized by the decentralization of responsibilities to specific technical committees, by the beginning of the thirties each factory could count on an office for certification, as it was possible to run into an office of GOST standards in all commissariats of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The evolution of GOST took a drastic change of direction in 1936 when it was eliminated the central committee for the standardization of the Union and all the rights for approval passed to the government and committees.
The battle for a high level of quality of products and services do not end there: in order to ensure the safety of consumer products, the non-compliance with the GOST standard turn to be under criminal liability.
To June 9, 1940 was decentralization fully implemented, when the PKUS in accordance with the Council Committees uttered the standard rule "on the standard state of the union and its implementation." According to this document standardization work was entrusted to the Committee for the supervision of the standard. The committee immediately set to work and concentrated on what was the most active industry of the Soviet Union, the military.
The GOST standards followed the activities of the country and, once the war ended, moved to focus more on technology and then, in the late 70's, to deal with the companies in each sector and of every type. The moment of greatest glory certification in USSR grew to 15 offices, 226 national centers and occupy up to72 000 workers.

Gost R, Technical Regulation, custom duties and export of wine to Russia

The Customs Service of the Russian Federation in accordance with agreements with the countries of the EU provides a mutual exchange of information, among many others, also with regard to exports to Russia of wine and wine products in general. The latest figures that have reached the databases of the Russian authorities have information on ordinary wine products from France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

The first exchange of this kind of information was initiated by EU customs authorities of the Russian Federation in 2007. After four years and many changesin the field of alcohol, among others, the new technical regulations (GOST Rvariant) of the customs union EurAsEC on the safety of alcohol, it was natural toinclude the measures of customs administrations in Russia and in Europe .
The customs authorities are concentrating their efforts towards the prevention ofunderreporting value at the customs and then an underestimation of the tax baseby importers who seek to create conditions to profit from evasion of customs duties and taxes.

In all cases the work performed by the customs authorities should not influence theprice mechanisms in the domestic market of the Russian Federation, entirely determined by other factors, making only, more complicated scam with thecustoms and revenue for speculators smaller.

It should be emphasized that most of the costs related to imports of wine productsis due as a payment of VAT, which however is then returned to importers to the budget.

Some market participants seeking to exploit every opportunity to advertisealcoholic products and create a strong demand, probably too much, sending false information on the situation created by the customs administration to the media.

We must also point out that such actions are contrary to Art. 21 of the Federal Law "On advertising", which prohibits the advertising of alcohol products on television, radio and movies.

Gost R and street safety

Gost R y segurida de las careteras
Certificati Gost R per la Russia e sicurezza degli autoveicoli

Last May, the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart-which is the body responsible for regulation and control of the GOST R certification, fire safety certification, of explosion proof certification, practically all Russian standards certificates except for the health certificate, as explained in detail in the article "customs Union and Russia Gost R-Kazakhstan-Belarus on the path towards a single standard continues," is a matter for the Customs Union of Russia and Belarus, Kazakhstan, and permission Rostechnadzor, commonly known out of Russia as certificate RTN which instead is under responsibility of Rostekhnadzor the Federal Service for, or ecology, technology and oversight to the use of nuclear energy.) on his official website has published a draft of technical regulation for Customs Union called "About safety of motor vehicles" and developed by experts belonging to the Ministry of Industry and Economic Development.

The Regulation lays down the law to apply, as the name suggests, to all motor vehicles regardless of country of production, as well as the legislation to be applied to the distribution, the maintenance and the repairing vehicles in the Customs Union.

The draft law focuses directly on vehicles intended for use in public areas and components that might compromise safety.

The reason why this news is important is evident, Russia alone accounts for one of the largest car markets in the world, since 2008 is the first European market, and estimates suggest they are destined to be among the five largest automobile markets worldwide. If these data are added to the sales in Belarus and Kazakhstan as well as those of other nations which aspire to join the union and then the system of certification of the union, it will be clear that all car manufacturers will have to deal with new regulations on security imposed from the union of Russia and Belarus, Kazakhstan, both as regards the declarations of conformity now GOST and for those that are currently still under conformity GOST R mandatory and GOST R voluntary.

Gost R for Russia and the Custom Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus

Gost R e Unione Doganale Russia-Kazakhstan-Bielorussia il cammino verso lo standard unico continua
Gost R por Rusia y la Union Aduanera de Rusia, Kazajstan y Belarusia

As you may know on July 6, 2010, with the final ratification by Belarus, came into force the Customs area between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The goalshall be the 1st January 2012 when, according to the schedule, should be fully operational the free trade area among the three countries former USSR, which,according to the agreements, can boast of a common external tariff. In additionto standardize customs laws, the recognition of the country of origin of goodsand collection of data on businesses.
To this end, the union, which was established within the Eurasian Economic Community (EueAsEC), has two main organs. The first is the commission: born in 1997, it is tasked to take decisions, resolve disputes and ensure that agreements are respected. The second organ is the court of EurAsEC, whichinherits its functions by the CIS Economic Court.

As said, it is a free trade area, therefore more resembling the European FreeTrade Association (Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) that an economic community provided with such as the EU single market. Theenforcement took place as planned on 1 July last year, when the three stateshave abolished internal border controls, thus creating an area that boasts 180 million consumers and 83% of the economic potential of the Soviet Union . This obviously makes the customs union, a goal extremely sensitive to international economic players who intend to export to an expanded Russia area and a lot of potential.

The customs union not only eliminates the controls and the system of internal customs tax for the three countries, but also simplifies the procedures for certification. The customs union has indeed created a special series of certificates, called certification EurAsEC, which takes place of Gost certificate extending the validity to all the union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, while leaving the existing certificates of the respective states: Gost R for Russia, Gost K for Kazakhstan and BelST for Belarus, which can still be requested andwhich continue to be valid only within the issuing state. On the contrary, what was the sanitary certificate of the Russian Federation, is completely replaced and its validity extended to the whole customs union by the new Sanitary Certificate EurAsEC.
The first certificate of conformity, with the same functions as the certificate of conformity GOST R, but with validity expanded to the three countries, was issued on March 10, 2011 in favor of an economic entity of the Russian region of Tatarstan.

Russia imports and exports, fears of devaluation for the Rouble and its consequences on the certificates GOST R market

The Russian economy and in particular the value of the ruble can rely, to be stable and prosperous, on a delicate balance between the Russian exports of raw materials, particularly oil and natural gas, and imports of consumer goods.

The first and second quarter of 2011 were characterized by phenomena that threaten to undermine the balance that has allowed, thanks also to the great efforts of the Russian central bank, to keep constant the rate 1 euro for lessthan 40 rubles and U.S. dollars for less 30.

This instability is caused by the volatility of oil prices, due to the instability present in the Middle East and fears of a contagion effect also involving Saudi Arabia, which so far has been the guarantor of the continuity of supply and of shock-free price of black gold.

On the other side instead we find an increase of imports in the first 5 months of 2011 which has reached a height of 49% over the previous year, with in particular a +146.9% of imports from CIS countries.

This factor drives several economists in Russia to forecast a strong devaluationof the currency within the next 10 months, which reduces the value of the ruble by 10-15%, probably gradually and around the presidential election of 2012. These predictions, however, were contradicted by official estimates of theMinistry of Economy, which predicts a devaluation only by 2014.

Excessive level of import growth, due to inadequate domestic production bothin prices and in terms of in quality, plus the likely decline in demand for crude oil in Europe and the U.S. which could lead with good possibility the price of oilbelow $ 70 per barrel, further reducing of the economic capacity of the Russian Federation and making a passive balance of trade.


The devaluation of the currency should help local producers who would be morecompetitive and is going to slow the uncontrolled growth of imports.

From the point of view of the GOST R certification and permit of application of Rostekhnadzor, the situation is not expected to change, or at most will register changes insignificant. The prices of services for foreign countries, such as the GOST certifcate, are historically more closely related to foreign currencies rather than the national one and therefore a possible devaluation of the ruble will not considerably affect the cost of certification.

From the point of view of the market however, the possible devaluation, could be a new barrier to entry for consumer products that you would find to be less convenient, although still superior to the average of those produced in Russia.
Finally, the possible devaluation could lead some investors to acquire equipment for production in the short term, hoping to take advantage of the devaluation later to produce at competitive costs.