Entering the Eurasian market with an approved
product is a challenge—not to mention staying compliant and keeping your
product on the market for years to come. To enter the market quickly and stay
there consistently, it’s crucial to understand the primary challenges
associated with product compliance in the Eurasian region.
The Eurasian economic area, which includes
Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, offers product
certifications in three major categories:
●
EAC: Electrical/electronic
products 50-1000 Vac, 75-1500 Vdc
●
FAC: Telecom and wireless products
●
RGTN: Industrial Machinery/Mining
The EAC mark, which is required for all
products in the voltage rage above, can be obtained two separate ways: a
Certificate of Conformity (which must be issued by a certification body) or a
Declaration of Conformity (which can be issued by an in-country
representative).
Here are seven common challenges in obtaining
and maintaining your Eurasian product certification:
Designing the test plan to
effectively leverage the base model or wireless module
The testing, inspection, and certification
route you choose is crucial to a successful certification process. For many
products, particularly those that need EAC certification, there is more than
one way to demonstrate and prove compliance with Eurasian standards.
Make sure the testing plan is designed with
not only the current product in mind, but future iterations of the product as
well. For devices with wireless capabilities, you may be able to test and
certify the wireless module itself. Once the base model is certified to be
compliant, it may not need to be re-tested for a future product if the
components and functionality are the same.
Understanding complex
certification requirements for a specific product type or category
Each product category comes with its own
requirements and standards for compliance. It’s crucial to understand the
requirements for the specific product in order to develop an effective testing,
inspection, and certification plan.
Non-acceptance of EAC
certificates issued outside of Russia
In some cases, Russian authorities may not
accept EAC certificates from certification bodies outside of Russia. It’s
important to work with in-country representatives and certification authorities
to build relationships and ensure your EAC certificate is issued by an accepted
certification body.
Ensuring compliance with
in-country representation
A reputable, responsible in-country
representative will go a long way toward streamlining the certification
process. Without an in-country representative, you may face challenges in
communication, unclear expectations, and unnecessary delays.
Submitting accurate, complete
forms to Russian certification bodies
Providing the wrong documentation or
submitting documents with errors can also add unnecessary delays to the
certification process. An experienced compliance professional can ensure you
start with the right documents and fill everything out thoroughly and
accurately so you can go to market faster.
Communicating with Eurasian
certification bodies
Submitting your certification documents is
only the beginning. Successfully certifying the product for sale in the
Eurasian region requires ongoing follow-up and communication with testing and
certification bodies.
Any issues identified in the testing or
certification process require follow-up communication, additional
documentation, or maybe even additional product samples. If these follow-up
items are not addressed within the given time frame, you could risk a lapse in
certification or significant delays in bringing the product to market.
Expiring standards or
certificates lead to unexpected lapses in coverage
International standards are always evolving.
Obtaining and maintaining product compliance in Eurasia requires staying
abreast of these changing standards and ensuring products meet up-to-date
standards. In addition, certificates must be renewed before they expire to
ensure no lapses in certification coverage.
An experienced compliance partner like G&M
Compliance can help you work through all of the challenges associated with
Eurasian product certification. G&M Compliance offers a Certificate
Alert and Tracking System (CATS) to help you stay informed about
expiring standards and certificates for EAC, FAC, RGTN, and other international
certifications.
Contact
G&M Compliance today to learn more.