Application scope: Consumer & Industrial
Supervising authority: Rostekhregulirovaniye
When needed: Customs clearance, Point of sales, RTN approval
What is GOST R Certification?
- Application scope
- Legal framework: mandatory vs voluntary certification
- Types of certification schemes: single shipment vs serial production
- Design and content of the certificates
Guidelines for GOST R Certification
- Procedure
- Required Russian certificates prior to GOST R
Application scope
The GOST R certification system concerns the majority of products sold or/and used in Russia, namely:
- consumer products such as foodstuff, textiles, cosmetics and toys;
- mechanical and electrical goods; industrial equipment for food, chemical, oil & gas, construction and other industries.
The full list of products subject to mandatory certification within GOST R system (latest amendments made in February 2006) can be downloaded here (in Russian).
Legal framework: mandatory vs voluntary certification
Since 1993, the Russian Government enacted legislation obliging to certify a number of products and introduced the GOST R system of mandatory certification with the intention of protecting health and safety of Russia's population.
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Original or certified copy of Certificate of Conformity is required for customs clearance at the Russian border as well as for sale and / or marketing within the country.
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The certified product should be marked by the registered GOST R sign (so called Mark of Conformity), which clearly demonstrates product compliance to the applicable Russian standards. The Mark consists of a sign standing for the GOST R certification system combined with the Certification Body registration number.
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GOST R Certificate of Conformity is a pre-requisite to obtain RTN Permit to Use for electrical ex-proof and other types of equipment.
For products not subject to mandatory certification according to the Russian law, voluntary certification scheme may be applied. Exporters or importers initiate voluntary certification with the aim to formally prove the conformity of their products to the applicable Russian standards, technical norms or recipes. In other words, GOST R Certificate of Conformity is a powerful marketing tool to capture Russian customer.
Required Russian certificates prior to GOST R
Prior to the issuance of GOST R Certificate of Conformity for some products, exporters may need to obtain some additional documentation, certificates and licenses, namely:
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Sanitary-Epidemiological Conclusion Certificate for products in contact with human body;
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State Registration at Minzdravsotsrazvitiya for new products such as baby food, drugs, medical tools etc;
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GOST R Pattern Approval Certificate for measuring instruments;
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Fire Safety Certificate for flammable or fire extinguishing products.
Types of certification schemes: single shipment vs serial production
Depending on the annual export volume, there are different types of Certificates of Conformity determining the evaluation
Procedure
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Single shipment certificates
The Consignment Certificate of Conformity is a trade document valid for one consignment only, i.e. for a certain quantity and type of product. This kind of certificate is advisable if you export to Russia sporadically. It can be issued only if you are able to prove who will be your customer/importer in Russia by means of a contract or an invoice. -
Certificates for serial production
The Serial Production Certificate of Conformity is a trade document whose validity can vary from 12 months to 3 years depending on the nature of the products. Such a document enables you to export unlimited times and quantities of heterogeneous goods produced during the certificate validity period. This type of GOST R certificate is especially suitable for a company with regular export activities and a wide product range. To ensure the compliance of products to Russian standards after the certificate has been issued, an annual inspection by accredited Certification Body is necessary.
Design and content of the certificates
One can tell a voluntary Certificate of Conformity and a mandatory one apart by its colour: blue versus yellow, respectively.
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| Mandatory GOST R Certificate of Conformity |
Voluntary GOST R Certificate of Conformity |
Source: SGS
