Any product entering Russia, Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan must be compliant with the regulations of the
Eurasian Economic Union. Here are some of the most common questions about
Eurasian Conformity (EAC) certification, including the EAC Certificate, EAC
Declaration, and more:
What is the Eurasian Economic Union?
The Eurasian Economic Union was founded in
2014 by Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus and expanded in 2015 to include Armenia
and Kyrgyzstan. It now represents all five countries as a single market with
uniform customs regulations. The Eurasian Economic Union, also known as the
Customs Union, has consistent technical regulations represented by the EAC Mark
and the EAC certification process.
What are the EAC Regulations?
The EAC regulations, used by all five member
states of the Eurasian Economic Union, spell out health and safety requirements
for products sold within the single market area. There are also regulations for
security, environmental protections, and other interests.
The technical regulations (TR) for this single
market are available on the Eurasian Economic Commission website.
Products must meet the EAC requirements in order to enter (and be marketed in)
the Eurasian area.
Are There Technical Regulations for My Product?
Manufacturers/producers are responsible for
determining which technical regulations apply to their product(s). Depending on
the type of product involved, one or multiple technical regulations may apply.
EAC regulations apply to a wide range of
products, including: chemicals, electromagnetic devices, food, lighting,
machinery, motor fuel, packaging materials, children’s products, toys,
vehicles, and many more.
Even if your product does not fall neatly into
one of the covered product categories, be sure to double-check the requirements
for your individual product. Certain product features, such as EMC capabilities
or marketing to children, will cause EAC regulations to apply where they
otherwise may not.
What Are the Penalties for Not Complying With EAC Regulations?
Selling products in Eurasian Economic Union
countries that are not compliant with EAC regulations is a violation of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Russian Federation.
Under Article 14.4, “The Sale of Goods, the Performance of Work, or the
Provision of the Public,” the following penalties could apply for a first-time
offense:
- Citizens: 1,000-2,000 roubles
- Officials: 3,000-10,000 roubles
- Sole proprietors: 10,000-20,000 roubles
- Legal entities: 20,000-30,000 roubles
There are additional penalties for
non-compliant communication equipment and selling any non-compliant products
again within one year of an original offense. Even if the product is EAC
compliant, sellers are subject to fines if the product is not correctly labeled
with the EAC mark.
What Is The Difference Between An EAC Certificate And EAC Declaration?
An EAC certificate is granted after a quality
assessment by an independent certification body that is accredited by the
Eurasian Economic Union and its member states. An EAC declaration comes from
the producer or manufacturer themselves—not an accredited, independent body. As
such, the EAC Certificate is typically seen as more authoritative than the
Declaration, but both serve the purpose of demonstrating compliance with EAC
requirements.
There are several other differences between a
Certificate and Declaration of Conformity:
- Testing: For an EAC Certificate, inspections must be conducted by an independent certification body. For an EAC Declaration, tests are conducted by the manufacturer themselves.
- Difficulty to Obtain: The EAC Certificate is usually more difficult to get than the EAC Declaration, often involving higher costs and longer timelines.
- Inspections: Companies must submit to a factory audit to obtain EAC Certification, but not for a Declaration of Conformity. Companies with an EAC Certification may also be subject to annual factory inspections during the certificate period.
Contact G&M Compliance to Learn More About EAC Certification
More questions? Contact
G&M Compliance today for more answers about the EAC
Certification process.