Goods certification system in Russia (GOST R)

For foreign exporter for note

While custom forming import goods and further selling them in Russian Federation necessity to certify production appears. Alongside with that many importing goods becomes under control of various administrate bodies. Thus for acceleration your goods transportation abroad it is of importance to get in advance certificates for production and other documents, which are required by agencies of State administration.

In every country, particularly in Russia, there is own system of standards according to which it is permitted to import and distribute equipment and goods of national consumption. Standards adopted on law level in Russian Federation (certification of equipment) – are GOST R standards, which answer the requirements of safety of production. Mandatory certification in GOST R system tells about safety of goods and services and is confirmed by quality mark.

In Russian Federation according to the law “About consumers rights protection” mandatory certification of quality, safety and ecological compatibility was introduced not only for national but also for imported goods. Importing to Russia goods subject to mandatory certification may be made only providing the fact, that they correspond the requirements of obligatory certification. By the Decree of July, 30, 2002 №64 ” About range of products and services subject to mandatory certification and range of products, which correspondence may be proved by Declaration of conformity” (with the last modifications) were affirmed lists of products subject to mandatory conformance certification GOST R or Declaration of Conformity.

The ground for giving authorization to import goods and getting clearance certificate is the conformance certificate (Rostest certificate), which together with custom declaration is checked in custom agencies. The certification of production is conducted in GOST R system. Certificate must be given by Russian agency of certification.

In what cases it is necessary to present certificate of conformity (CC)?

Each copy of certificate of conformity is accompanied by stamp of the firm, chief’s sign and must be attested by notary. Certifications and documents of their adoption are to pass to custom agencies together with the custom declaration and are of importance to receive clearance certificate to import production to the Russian Federation. A custom employee may call and inquire an affirmation of the agency, which gave the certificate, dialing the number mentioned in the conformance certificate. Presence of the conformance certificate on the outlet, selling that product may be also checked by tax inspector and employees of sanitary epidemiologic stations.

An importer while transporting production to Russia must show on the custom mandatory certificate of conformity (Rostest certificate) for importing goods or refusal letter from Russian Scientific Research Institute of Certification (VNIIS), proving that the certification of importing goods is not mandatory.

Refusal letter is an official document, given by accredited agency of certification, in which is noted, that production is not subject to mandatory certification and belongs to the group of production, which correspondence may be affirmed by the Declaration of conformity.

Refusal letters may be of two types:

  • for custom bodies;
  • for the aim of selling goods on the territory of the Russian Federation.

They classified depending on address and purpose. For trade refusal letter is directed to applicant (chief of the firm), who asked for letter and is given by any body of certification; they can be with term of validity and without it. To the custom – the Head of the State custom committee (SCC) the such letter is given only by the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Certification (VNIIS); also an information about contract and invoice, on which production is imported. The same is for letters for trade: they can be made by VNIIS or RosTest (at client’s will).

The letter is made on the blank of agency, which gives it and is imprinted stamp.

The refusal letter is of need in that cases, when for example, it is not quite clear what is the code of the product according to All-Russian classifier for products code (OKP) or the Commodity nomenclature for foreign economical activity (TN VED). In its turn there is a question is it obligatory or not to certify production.

Authorized representative of control agencies (Custom and the other checking departments) always asks it. Sometimes it may be asked by your customers, who require quality certificate for the production you sell, for instance.

There are different schemes of certification in Russia. Depending on chosen scheme, in the certificate the receiver may be either foreign producer company or Russian contractor – customer. As an applicant for the procedure of certification imported production may be foreign company, Russian company-importer or individual entrepreneur. Available foreign quality certificates (ISO, TUV, CE etc.) and declaration from the producer will need for issuing Russian certificate. Quality certificate ISO is not enough for affirmation of conformity of the production to the GOST R standards. There are some differences between norms, stated by Russian national standard organization (GOSSTANDARD) and the standard system ISO. That’s why instead of achieved ISO and CE firm must present conformance certificate GOST R and hygienic conclusion of Ministry of Health of RF.

Nowadays in Russia there are both mandatory and voluntary certification. Voluntary certification takes place on own initiative of an applicant according to the law of RF “About goods and services certification”. For further selling goods on the territory of Russia they need: refusal letter for trade, Declaration of conformity, voluntary conformance certificate in GOST R system.

Documents, which are necessary for the production to pass the procedure of certification and receiving RosTest mark:

For issuing certificates on schemes “for producer” (scheme № 3):

  • – application for certification (with mentioned name of production and codes TN VED, OKP);
  • – descriptive memorial of the production (log, catalogue, instruction, label), charts;
  • – certificate of origin;
  • – quality certificate of the producer, declaration of conformity, other foreign certificates;
  • – certificates and protocols of examination;
  • – registration documents (license)of the firm-applicant.

For issuing certificates on schemes “for producer” (scheme №№ 2, 7, 9):

  • – application for certification (with mentioned name of production and codes TN VED, OKP);
  • – descriptive memorial of the production (log, catalogue, instruction, label), charts;
  • – certificate of origin;
  • – quality certificate of the producer, declaration of conformity, other foreign certificates;
  • – certificates and protocols of examination;
  • – registration documents (license)of the firm-applicant;
  • – contract, commercial and transport documents, invoice.

Certificates for the production, importing to Russia: