INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION
The founding objective of the Eurasian Customs Union (EAC) and the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia, is to form a set of values covering economic, political and social elements in the countries across the Eurasian region. As in the European Union example, it is a priority to provide the free movement of goods and services within certain rules.
Therefore, producers who want to export their goods to Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan should have information on the new regulations not to face any problems.
Gost R Certificate of Conformity affirms that the production lines of and the products exported to Russia, conform to the Russian Safety Standards.
Depending on the exporter needs, GOST R certificates can be:
for a single shipment or
for serial production.
The validity period of a GOST-R certificate for serial production can be 1-3 years.
Depending on the product, the GOST R certificate can require prior fire safety certification or SGR Sanitary Certificate.
There two kinds of Conformity Certificates:
Mandatory Certificate of Conformity – about production and subject to mandatory certification;
Voluntary Certificate of Conformity – about production and subject to voluntary certification
UkrSEPRO is an Ukrainian quality system certification. Both foreign and Ukrainian companies who want to trade in Ukraine should possess UkrSePRO.
There are two types of UkrSEPRO Certificates: voluntary and mandatory. There is an ordinance arranging the type of the conformity certificate to be selected based on the product. On the basis of this ordinance, if the product is subject to certification, it must be obtained on a mandatory basis. The ground for the conformity certificate is a test report from an accredited laboratory.
If the product is not subject to mandatory certification in Ukraine, then (on voluntary basis, for the purpose of increasing competitiveness) a voluntary certificate can be issued. Another feature of the conformity certificate is that, not always it is required to perform product testing. This can be achieved with product certification plans.
Basically, almost all consumer goods require mandatory certification. It includes all groceries, products for children, perfumes and cosmetics, tableware and kitchenware, packaging materials, household and industrial equipment, etc.
UkrSEPRO certificates can be valid for a single shipment, or 1, 2 or 5 years.
The Customs Union Certificate of Conformity (EAC certificate) is an official document confirming the conformity of the quality of production with the approved standards within the Customs Union region.
The EAC Certificate can be used in the exports of goods to any one of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan. The certificate is also valid on the territory of each country.
Typically the certificate of the Customs Union is issued for partial or serial production. In case the certificate is issued with a validity periof of more than one year, audits must be conducted not less than once a year. The EAC Certificate is issued with a maximum validity period of 5 years.
The Customs Union Certificate of Conformity is the easiest way to enter the markets of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan at the same time.
The Customs Union Declaration of Conformity has the similar legal power as the EAC Certificate. The receiver of the declaration may only be a legal entity within EAC borders. The receiver companies listed in the declaration, should be responsible for the quality of the products within EAC, and are obliged to accept claims, complaints and appeals related to product quality.
In a declaration of conformity according to EAC technical regulations, it is stated that the organization registered in the territory of the Customs Union is accountable for the product after it is placed on the market. Each declaration of conformity issued in the Customs Union must be registered in the certification body. The EAC Declaration is issued for a maximum period of 5 years.
This certificate confirms that the products are in conformity with Russian fire safety standards, and in some cases is required to receive GOST-R. Some group of products subject to obligatory fire safety certification are:
- Flammable construction materials such as carpets, wallpaper, flooring, doors, etc.
- Signalization of fire prevention and data transmission cables,
- Materials and refractory coating, fire protection doors,
- Fire extinguishers,
- Electrical current 220 V cables;
- Household appliances operated with LPG or CNG,
- Industrial products related to gas burners, heat generators, etc.
The State Registration (SGR) Hygiene Certificate confirms that the product is safe for human health. This document is issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Development for the production or imports of products which meet the sanitary regulations and hygienic standards of the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan – which is valid on the whole territory of this union).
Here is a list of products that require SGR Certificate:
- Mineral water, bottled drinking water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks – including low alcohol and tonic drinks,
- Special foods, which include baby food, food for pregnant and breastfeeding women, dietary products, food for athletes, biologically active food additives, organic products and supplements,
- Food additive complexes (plant extracts, aromas, etc.),
- Food produced using genetically modified organisms,
- Cosmetics, and oral care products,
- Homecare products,
- Disinfectants, resources for rat extermination,
- Potentially hazardous chemical and biological agents,
- Materials, equipment, devices and other technical products to treat water intended for drinking,
- Products intended for contact with food (except cutlery, tableware, manufacturing equipment),
- Personal care products for children and adults, children clothing and products used for feeding care.
All medical devices used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes must be registered at the Federal Service for Control over Healthcare and Social Development (Roszdravnadzor) in Russia, and at the end of the process, a certificate of registration is issued.
Medical devices in Russia are classified in the same manner as in Europe: class 1 (low risk), class 2a (medium risk), class 2b (elevated risk), class 3 (high-risk).
The registration is mandatory for all medical products designed for medical application in the territory of the Russian Federation including devices, apparatus, instruments, appliances, kits, complexes, systems with software, equipment, accessories, bandages and sutures, dental materials, reagent sets, reference materials and standard samples, calibrators, analyser consumables, products of polymer, rubber and other materials, software applied for medical purposes, used either separately or in combination.
The validity period of registration depends on the type of the medical device and may be from 5 to 10 years, or for an indefinite duration.