FAQ:Declaration and Certificate of Conformity to Technical Regulations of the EAEU
Contents
General
Why you may need EAC Certificate and Declaration?
Certificate and Declaration of Conformity to Technical Regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter — EAC Certificate and Declaration or EAC documents) are official documents that prove safety and evidence conformity of products to the requirements of Technical Regulations of the EAEU.
EAC Certificate and Declaration are required to import goods to the EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia), and to sell them on the markets of all the above countries.
In what countries do EAC Certificate and Declaration apply?
Declaration of Conformity and Certificate of Conformity apply on the territories of all EAEU member countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan), regardless of the country where they were issued.
Procedures of obtaining the EAC Certificate and Declaration
Who may apply for EAC Certificate and Declaration?
EAC Certificate and Declaration may be issued to legal entities and sole proprietors registered in the EAEU countries. Specifically, the EAEU law stipulates the following list of possible applicants:
Foreign company may not apply for a Declaration or Certificate of Conformity.
Representative office of a foreign company in Russia also cannot obtain the Declaration or Certificate, as representative office is not considered a legal entity in Russia.
What is the procedure of obtaining EAC Certificate and Declaration?
To obtain a Declaration or Certificate of Conformity, one should start with applying to one of the certification centers in any EAEU country, and provide information required for their review (HS codes, product description (datasheet, operations manual, drawings, diagrams, safety justification, list of ingredients, test reports, etc.). Certification specialists will determine documents required further, as well as Technical Regulations to which the products should conform.
Starting from 2018, due to tightening of certification rules, issue of a Declaration and Certificate of Conformity also requires testing of products (1 sample is usually enough for testing).
EAC Certificate and Declaration: common features and differences
What information do the EAC Declaration and Certificate of Conformity contain?
The Declaration and Certificate contain the following data:
Any information that goes beyond the space on the main sheet of the document (e.g., branches of the manufacturing plant or product models) may be provided in appendices to the document.
Is it possible to use wildcard characters (***, XXX, etc.) in a product name or model/SKU?
Yes, they may be used, if such characters provide for unambiguous identification of variable parameters of a product that do not affect its quality. For example, parameters that do not affect quality of a product include, among others, product color, retail package features, etc.
In this case, the applicant should provide a documentary proof that wildcard characters are used solely to encode the above parameters.
The key for decoding wildcard characters should be provided in the document after the product description or in an appendix to the Declaration or Certificate.
Validity of EAC Certificate and Declaration
1. Certificate and Declaration for series-produced goods may be issued for 1, 3 or 5 years
The applicant may import products listed in the EAC document within 1, 3 or 5 years. The Certificate and Declaration for series-produced goods do not restrict amount of imported goods.
2. Batch of goods
Certificate or Declaration for a batch of goods is issued for a certain amount of goods (e.g. 1100 pieces, 300 kg), imported within a specific contract and invoice. Certificate and Declaration will remain valid until distribution of the whole batch. It is impossible to import another batch of goods under the same Certificate or Declaration, even if the amount is the same.
3. One-of-a-kind product
If a product is imported to the EAEU territory as a one-of-a-kind piece, a Certificate or Declaration may be obtained for a one-of-a-kind product (one engine, one commercial air conditioner).
Is it possible to state several HS codes in one Declaration or Certificate of Conformity?
Several HS codes may be stated in the same Declaration or Certificate, but they must have the same first four digits.
Is it possible to list all plants where the product is manufactured in one EAC document?
EAC document shall contain only one principal manufacturer (its name and address). Any other manufacturing facilities (e.g. plants) may be listed as branches.
Other questions
Which particular document (Declaration or Certificate of Conformity) should be obtained for a specific product?
To determine whether the product requires EAC document and which one, do this:
1. Ensure that the product is included to the Common list [2] of products subject to mandatory certification in the EAEU.
2. Find the proper EAEU Technical regulation(s) that have the product within their scope (see List of the adopted Technical Regulations of the Customs Union/Eurasian Economic Union). Technical regulations in most cases list which products require Certificate or Declaration in a designated section.
If there is no suitable Technical regulation for the product (or if it is not even in the Common list), it may still need a Certificate/Declaration of conformity to the national standards of the particular EAEU member country.
Is it possible to obtain a Certificate of Conformity instead of the Declaration of Conformity?
Certificate of Conformity may be obtained instead of Declaration of Conformity at the applicant’s discretion. However, this possibility should be explicitly stipulated in the respective Technical regulation.
How can be a mistake in a Declaration and Certificate of Conformity corrected?
It is impossible to correct mistakes or make changes in the registered Certificates and Declarations of Conformity. If any mistake is found, the document should be re-issued. Incorrect Certificate or Declaration is cancelled, and the new document is assigned another registration number.
Is it possible to renew an EAC Declaration and Certificate of Conformity?
New document should be issued upon expiration of Certificates and Declarations of Conformity.
How can an EAC document be verified?
One may also find there information about accredited certification authorities and laboratories.
Is it possible for a company to use an EAC document issued to other company?
Yes, it is possible.
In such case the company that obtained the Certificate or Declaration should provide the other company with a power of attorney to use the document in question.
How can be a copy of an EAC Certificate and Declaration made correctly?
An applicant may make a copy of the Certificate of Conformity on regular A4 sheets of paper. Copies of the Certificate should bear a seal, an inscription “true copy” and a signature of an authorized representative of the applicant company.
Copy of a Certificate of Conformity may be also certified by the certification authority that issued such Certificate, or a notary (upon presentation of the original Certificate).
Copies of the Declaration of Conformity may be made on regular A4 sheets of paper, certified by a seal and signature of an authorized representative of the applicant.
Is there any liability for violation of certification rules?
Liability for violation of rules of the Technical Regulations in the EAEU is governed by the national laws of member countries.
Importation and sale of goods without a Certificate or Declaration of Conformity in Russia is an administrative offence punishable by a fine (sometimes with seizure of goods).
How can be a set of products (cosmetics, gift sets, sets with food products, etc.) certified?
Any goods constituting a set should be certified individually, as different goods in the set may require different documents — Certificate or Declaration.
E.g., a cosmetic set consisting of shampoo, body deodorant and a toiletry case will be certified as follows:
3 Declarations of Conformity in total.
Food gift baskets are certified in the same way. E.g., a basket consisting of a bottle of olive oil, can of olives and fridge magnet is certified as follows:
2 Declarations of Conformity in total.
Are home-made products subject to certification?
Home-made products (toys, sweets, cakes, clothes, etc.) for personal use are not subject to certification.
If home-made products are planned for sale in the EAEU market, they shall be subject to the same requirements as those for series-produced goods, and, consequently, they shall need an EAC Certificate or Declaration.
EAC Declaration
Registration of EAC declarations of compliance is carried out by an accredited certification body listed in the Unified Register of Certification Bodies and Test Laboratories (Centers) of the Customs Union, to which our company belongs. An application for registration of a document may be submitted either by the enterprise that produces the device or by the authorized representative of the importing company.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY OF THE CUSTOM UNION
EAC Declaration according to the technical regulations of the Customs Union (TR CU) is
one of the forms of mandatory conformity assessment. The form and content of the declaration
is regulated by the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission of December
25, 2012 N 293. Registration became available from February 2012, after the entry into force
of the first TR of the Customs Union.
The Declaration of Conformity of the Customs Union is subject to registration in the Unified
Register of Declarations, where it is possible to obtain information on the compliance
documents issued and entered into the register.
Registration is carried out by a certification body included in the National part of the
Unified Register of Certification Bodies of the Customs Union.
One of the key differences between the declaration and the certificate is that it is registered
by the applicant. More detailed information can be obtained in the article “Differences
between the certificate and the declaration of the Customs Union”
Our Accreditation
Russian Certification Body SERCONS laboratories are accredited to issue certification for products to verify their compliance
with
the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union for:
The difference between the EAC Certificate and the EAC Declaration
For many products that are to be exported to Russia and other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan), their conformity with the requirements of technical regulations and standards has to be attested before the launch. The attestation of conformity takes place in the form of a certification, declaration or state hygienic registration. Many German manufacturers do not know, which conformity assessment activity is required for their product according to the Technical Regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union – the EAC Certification or the EAC Declaration. We are trying to answer the question on the difference between an EAC Certificate and an EAC Declaration.
EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration: definition
An EAC Certificate is an official certification that the products comply with the harmonized technical requirements of the EAEU. Certificates can only be issued by an independent certification body accredited by a member state of the customs union after a quality assessment. The certification takes place on the basis of technical documents and corporate test reports or test reports provided by accredited production laboratories, as well as if necessary an on-site manufacturing audit.
Apart from a compulsory certification, it is possible to have the product certified voluntarily.
Voluntary certification: if a certification or declaration is not intended for the product, it can still be certified on the initiative of the manufacturer or the importer. In this case, the applicant decides himself according to which standards the product is to be certified. The certification takes place according to the national regulations (STB for Belarus, GOST R for Russia, SТ RK for Kazakhstan).
An EAC Declaration is a declaration by the manufacturer, importer or an authorized representative on the conformity with the minimum requirements of the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union. In contrast to the EAC Certificate, the EAC Declaration is made by the manufacturer or importer. All tests and analyses required are carried out by the manufacturer himself. The EAC Declaration has to be recorded in the unified register of the EAEU by an accredited certification body of a member state of the customs union.
Conformity assessment procedure
Normally, the technical regulations clearly define which products are subject to which attestation of conformity. In some cases, it is possible to replace the compulsory EAC Declaration by an EAC Certification, for instance in case of the conformity attestation according to TR CU 010/2011 On safety of machinery and equipment oder TR CU 004/2011 On safety of low-voltage equipment. Although a declaration has the same legal validity as a certificate, certificates are regarded to be more convincing and trustworthy.
The conformity with technical regulations of products requiring certification has to be assessed by an accredited certification body. In case of the EAC Declaration, the manufacturer is to test himself, if his products are compliant with the EAEU’s standards.
EAC Declaration
EAC Certification
The certification and declaration can be applied for exclusively by an importer located in the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore an authorized representative within the EAEU is required.
All documents have to be translated into Russian or the language of the respective member state.
EAC Certificate und EAC Declaration have the same legal effect in all member states within the customs union and are valid up to 5 years.
Required documents
For the certification as well as the declaration the following documents are required:
Depending on the type of the certified products, additional documents and certifications can be required.
Summary of differences between EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration
| Criteria | Certificate | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant | manufacturer, importer, authorized representative | manufacturer, importer, authorized representative |
| Product identification | certification body | applicant |
| Tests and analyses | testing laboratories accredited in the EAEU | own testing laboratories or testing laboratories accredited in the EAEU |
| Issuer | certification body | applicant |
| Registration | certification body | certification body or applicant |
| Period of validity | 1 to 5 years depending on the regulation | 1 to 5 years depending on the regulation |
| Surveillance | certification body | — |
Issuing of an EAC Certificate or EAC Declaration
The EAC Declaration is issued by the manufacturer, importer or an authorized representative on DIN A4 paper on their own. The declaration has to be issued with signature and company stamp. The EAC conformity mark is applied to every declaration.
The EAC Certificate is issued by the certification body with an official form. Every form has a number and series. The certificate is counterfeit-proof.
EAC Certification
The Eurasian Customs Union, which began in October 2007, represents a mutually beneficial partnership between several states that regularly trade with each other. The certificate of the Customs Union is a mandatory document for goods, raw materials, and equipment inside the union. The advantage of this association between Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, is a significant facilitation of trade activity through the reduction or complete elimination of customs duties.
What is the certificate of the Customs Union?
In order to ensure proper control over the quality of goods moving between the member states of the Customs Union, a modern system for their certification has been developed, determining compliance with all applicable standards. Benefits of Eurasian Customs Union in terms of certification:
Russian Certification Body SERCONS has full accreditation, which allows us to provide services for obtaining a certificate under the 32 technical regulations of the Customs Union.
Our Accreditation
SERCONS is accredited to issue certification for products to verify their compliance with the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union for:
Important: The Certificate of Conformity of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union can be formalized both for goods produced by the countries of the Customs Union and of foreign manufacturers.
Who should carry out the registration of the certificate of conformity of the Customs Union?
The certificate of conformity for the Customs Union is mandatory for producers of various products. Therefore a trading company or a manufacturing company needs to follow three simple steps:
How to get an EAC Certificate of Conformity of the Customs Union?
The procedure for obtaining the certificate can be carried out according to the following schemes:
In order to receive the quotation, the following information is required:
Liability provided for trading without a certificate of conformity
The current legislation provides for administrative liability for violation of the rules of trade for the sale of goods without a certificate of the Customs Union. But the penalties are only part of the punishment. In addition, the violator simply will not be able to cross the border of the vehicle with the goods that did not pass all necessary checks for compliance with GOSTs and technical regulations. Also, sales of these products will be substantially limited, which could lead to significant losses.
Что такое eac declaration of conformity
EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration: what to choose and when?
One of the first issue to face, while approaching EAC certifications for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, is to differentiate between EAC certificate and EAC declaration. It is important to note that, the choice, is not generally delegated to the producer or to the applicant of the EAC certification.
For each category of products, is in fact explicit, in the TR CU regulations, what type of document is to be issued, in order to have it correctly certified. The TR CU regulations include furthermore, for each category, the certification scheme, hence the certification procedures to be followed by the accredited certification body, such as us, in order to issue the right certification.
Usually the list of products, for which the an EAC certificate is required, is present in one of the annexes to the TR CU regulating the field, whereas by exclusion, if not explicitly declared,are identified those products under the rules of declaration.
For example, in the annex 1, of the TR CU 004/2011 for the safety of low voltage equipment, is present the following list of product subject to conformity assessment in the form of EAC certificate:
For example, in the annex 3, of the TR CU 010/2011 for the safety of machinery, is present the following list of product subject to conformity assessment in the form of EAC certificate:
Whereas in the annex 4, of the same TR CU 010/2011 for the safety of machinery, is present the following list of product subject to conformity assessment in the form of EAC declaration:
30 Road making machines and equipment for mortar preparation;
EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration: what are the differences?
Several aspects distinguish the EAC certificate to the EAC declaration. There are in fact different procedures followed by the certification body to attain the documents. To the applicant is more noticeable, the vaster list of documents required, the mandatory ISO certification, to be owned by the producer, more extended test and factory inspections, in order to required the Certificate. Usually the EAC certificate is applicable to particularly dangerous cases, as for devices operating in explosive atmosphere (EAC certificate in conformity to 012/2011 TR CU, comparable to the ATEX certification) or vessels operating under high pressure (EAC certificate in conformity to 032/2013 TR CU, comparable to the PED certification).
There is as well an important difference regarding the distribution of responsibility. In the case of EAC declaration the most of responsibilities are assigned to the applicant whereas the EAC certificate require the certification body, such as we are, to assume on itself a much wider range of responsibilities.
