Overview of the different labeling and marking requirements, including restrictive practices.

In general, Russian Customs will require specific product information, as per field 31 on the customs declaration form (e.g., name, trademark, manufacturer, country of origin, composition, etc.).

Additional labeling and marking requirements have generally been harmonized across the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states for products entering the territory, according to the Technical Regulations (TR) for each product category. Where required, the official certification mark logo (“EAC” – sometimes referred to as “conformity mark”) should be applied to each production unit, packaging, or instructions for use (as specified by the appropriate TR) and should be clearly visible throughout the lifetime of the product. The “EAC” mark indicates conformity with TR’s established by the EAEU and should only be used for products that have been formally tested and approved by officially recognized certification authorities. All specifications regarding the design and dimensions of the “EAC” mark are outlined in the Eurasian Customs Union Commission (precursor to the Eurasian Economic Commission) decision No. 711 of July 15, 2011.

The Technical Regulation (TR) on the Safety of Packaging (TR CU 005/2011) is a key provision, which governs standards and requirements for packaging, including that of food products, produced both as a finished product and as part of the product’s manufacturing process. The TR was adopted via Customs Union Commission decision No. 769 of August 16, 2011 and has been in effect since July 1, 2012. Several changes were made, and the most recent version was completed by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in its Decision 96 of October 18, 2016.

It covers the main rules for the packaging of the ready goods and regulates the following areas: market circulation rules, safety requirements, and requirements for marking of packaging (closures).

An English translation of the original Technical Regulation TR CU 005/2011 is available at the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

In general, labels on food items must feature the following information in the Russian, Kazakh, Armenian, Kyrgyzstani, and Belarussian languages: type and name of the product; legal address of the producer (may be provided in the Latin alphabet); weight/volume of the product; food contents (name of basic ingredients/additives listed by weight in decreasing order); nutritional value (calories, vitamins if their content is significant or if the product is intended for children, for medical, or for dietary use); conditions of storage; expiration date (or production date and period of storage); directions for preparation of semi-finished goods or children’s foodstuffs; warning information regarding any restrictions and side effects; and terms and conditions of use.

Labels on nonfood items must include: name of the product; country of origin and name of manufacturer (may be given in Latin letters); usage instructions; main characteristics, rules and conditions for effective and safe use of product; and any other information determined by the state regulation body.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade enacted Governmental Order No. 791-r titled Model Rules for the Mandatory Marking System of Consumer Products on April 28, 2018. This Order specifies the list of consumer goods that must be marked with special identification marks containing individual information about the goods in 2019. All information generated by the participants of the marking system will be stored during the life cycle of the goods. This Order defines a list of goods, which will be subject to the special marking: tobacco products (from March 1, 2019); shoes (from July 1, 2019); perfume, tires, leather clothing, shirts and blouses for women and girls, coats and outdoor jackets, bed linen and tablecloths, cameras (except video cameras), and camera flashes (from December 1, 2019). This Order also mandates the creation of a single catalog of goods in Russia.