On 1 July 2012 five new technical regulations of Custom Union came into effect. They define obligatory requirements on evaluation of conformity, production and selling for:

  • Toys;
  • Packaging;
  • Goods for children and teenagers;
  • Consumer goods;
  • Perfumes and cosmetics goods.

There is a transition period in respect of the new requirements during which it will be possible to produce and sell goods in accordance with the previous legislation of the Custom Union and its members.

Documents confirming compliance with requirements under the previous legislation will remain in force until the date of their expiration but not later than the expiration of the transition period.

The transition period for packaging, goods for children and teenagers and toys will expire on 15 February 2014.

In respect of documentation on compliance of cosmetics and consumers goods, the transition period will expire on 01 July 2014.

Amendments influenced the list of the products which are subject to obligatory certification and of those which require a conformity declaration. By Decision of the Government of Russian Federation dated 18 June 2012 several sections of the regulations are excluded (for instance, colognes and aftershaves; perfumes and natural essential oils in souvenir boxes), and several sections are outlined in a new version (for instance, cosmetics goods).

It should be noted that from 13 July 2012, the following goods will not require obligatory certification:

  • Consumer goods;
  • Toys and goods for children;
  • Glass packaging;
  • Packaging materials;
  • Means of individual protection;
  • Perfumes and cosmetics goods.

Certification in respect of the aforementioned goods shall be at the applicant’s discretion.

The technical regulations that have come into force are intended to decrease the administrative and technical barriers for selling specified goods in the territory of the Custom Union.

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On safety packaging” (TP TC 005/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 16 August 2011 N 769);

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On safety of goods for children and teenagers” (TP TC 007/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 23 September 2011 N 797);

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On toys safety” (TP TC 008/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 23 September 2011 N 798);

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On safety of perfumes and cosmetics goods” (TP TC 009/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 23 September 2011 N 799);

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On safety of consumer goods” (TP TC 017/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 9 December 2011 N 876);

Technical Regulation of Custom Union “On safety of means of individual protection” (TP TC 017/2011) (ratified by the Decision of Custom Union dated 9 December 2011 N 876);

Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated 13 June 2012 N 80 “On amending the list of products which are subject to obligatory certification within the Custom Union”;

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation N 596 dated 18 June 2012 “On amending the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 1 December 2009 N982”.