If you are exporting goods to Russia or other
member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, chances are you are familiar with
EAC certification. But too many manufacturers are uncertain what type of
certification they need to demonstrate compliance with EAC regulations: EAC
Certificate, EAC Declaration, or something else entirely?
Read on to learn more about when to pursue an
EAC Certificate vs. an EAC Declaration for your product, or contact G&M Compliance to learn
more about the EAC certification process.
What is the EAC Certificate?
An EAC certificate can only be granted after a
quality assessment by an independent certification body that is accredited by
the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states. The quality assessment may
include providing technical documents, testing product samples, and conducting
a factory audit at the manufacturing facility. To obtain an EAC Certificate,
companies typically need a local agent who will represent the manufacturers in
Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and other member states of the Eurasian Economic
Union.
The EAC Certificate can be issues for a
certain quantity of items or for ongoing production for up to 5 years. There
are three main EAC certification schemes:
- Scheme 1с: TR Customs Union Certification EAC for products produced in quantity
- Scheme 3с: TR Customs Union Certification EAC for a batch of products
- Scheme 4с: TR Customs Union Certification EAC for a single product (unit certification)
What is the EAC Declaration?
An EAC declaration comes from the producer or
manufacturer themselves—not an accredited, independent body, like the EAC
Certificate. This Declaration states that the product meets the minimum
requirements of EAC technical regulations. Companies that pursue an EAC
Declaration perform all tests and analysis in-house, then provide a summary in
the Declaration. The EAC Declaration is official once it is accepted and
recorded in the official Eurasian Economic Union register.
What is the Difference Between an EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration?
There are several significant differences
between the EAC Certificate and an EAC Declaration
- Testing: Tests and inspections must be conducted by an independent certification body in order to obtain an EAC Certificate. On the other hand, tests are conducted by the manufacturer themselves for the EAC Declaration.
- Difficulty to Obtain: The EAC Certificate is usually more difficult to get than the EAC Declaration. Coordinating testing, inspections, and other requirements with a third-party agency often involves a longer timeline and higher cost than working through certification requirements in-house.
- Inspections: Companies must submit to a factory audit to obtain EAC Certification, but not for a Declaration of Conformity. Also, companies with an EAC Certification are subject to annual factory inspections during the certificate period, and companies with an EAC Declaration are not.
- Legal Validity: The EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration are equally valid in the eyes of the law. However, since the Certificate is more difficult to obtain and involves a third-party review of the product, the EAC Certificate is typically seen as a more trustworthy, reliable indicator of compliance.
Contact G&M Compliance to Learn More About EAC Certification
Whether you are trying to export to the EAEU
for the first time or you are looking to renew your existing certification for
the future, G&M Compliance can help.
G&M Compliance specializes in getting
products to market quickly. Since 1997, G&M Compliance professionals have
helped clients export products to China, Russia, India,
and other key global markets.
Contact
G&M Compliance today to get a quote or
learn more about the requirements of EAC Certification and Declaration.