GOST-R Certification Service

1. Certification Introduction

GOST is the abbreviation for National Standard (Russian: gosudarstvennyy standart), with its earliest origins dating back to the Soviet era in 1925. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, GOST standards became regional standards and are widely used in CIS countries and some former Soviet states. These include: Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan. Depending on the country of entry, there are GOST-R certification (Russia), GOST-B certification (Belarus), GOST-K certification (Kazakhstan), etc.

After 2010, with the operation of the Customs Union—Eurasian Economic Union led by Russia, most GOST R regulated products were transferred to the EAC certification process (using TR standards) after 2012. However, some products are still not covered by EAC and require GOST R certification to enter the Russian market.

2. Certification Models

GOST R certification is divided into mandatory certification, declaration of conformity, and voluntary certification.

GOST R mandatory certification certificates include single shipment certificates and batch production certificates. All certificates must be issued by an organization accredited by Gosstandart, and the certificate applicant must be a local Russian company.

The single shipment certificate applies to factories, production lines, or special order equipment that cannot apply for series certification. The certificate is valid for one or several shipments and becomes invalid after the shipments are completed.

The batch production certificate applies to products with stable quality for long-term shipments, with validity periods of one year, three years, or five years. The one-year certificate does not require a factory inspection and is based on the product's test report and technical documentation. The three-year and five-year certificates require factory audits in addition to the requirements for the one-year certificate, and products can be shipped in multiple batches during the certificate's validity period.

The GOST R declaration of conformity model is similar to GOST R mandatory certification. Products listed in the Russian Federation Government Resolution No. 982 require a GOST R declaration of conformity. GOST R declaration of conformity does not require a factory inspection.

The list of products not requiring certification is published by the government customs committee every six months. For products not on the mandatory certification list, an exemption letter is required for customs clearance.

3. Product Scope

GOST R mandatory certification covers household products and appliances, toys, audiovisual products, telecommunications products, tools, food, tobacco, cosmetics, perfumes, personal hygiene products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, clothing and footwear, furniture, vehicles, gasoline and lubricants, chemicals, machinery, and other industries.

GOST R declaration of conformity applies to products such as household items, textiles, food, batteries, and mechanical equipment.

4. Application Documents

(1) Application form in English or Russian

(2) Business license

(3) System certificates such as ISO9001

(4) Product description or technical documentation

(5) Product images

(6) Other required documents

5. Certification Process

(1) Submit the GOST application form (product name and model, specifications, HS code, etc.)

(2) Expert evaluation of the product and its intended use to provide the most effective and accurate certification plan

(3) Prepare certification documents under the guidance of a professional certification engineer

(4) The certification body reviews the qualifications, submits the evaluation, and issues a draft certificate for confirmation

(5) Issue the certificate, with electronic and original copies provided

6. Differences Between EAC and GOST

(1) Different scope of certificate applicability

Eurasian Economic Union EAC certification is valid in multiple countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, while the original GOST certification of each member country is only valid in that country.

(2) Different certification applicants

Eurasian Economic Union EAC certification regulations stipulate that the applicant for EAC certification must be a legal entity within a member country of the Eurasian Economic Union. The original GOST certification has no strict requirements for applicants, who can be manufacturers or importers.

(3) Different certification difficulty and cycle

Eurasian Economic Union EAC certification requires testing and possibly factory audits for certain products, with a cycle ranging from 7 to 100 days depending on product requirements. GOST certification does not require testing or factory audits, and the certification cycle is generally 7-10 days.

(4) Different certificate validity periods

GOST certification validity periods include: single shipment, 1-year validity, and 3-year validity. Eurasian Economic Union EAC certification validity periods include: single shipment certificate, 1-year certificate, 3-year certificate, and 5-year certificate.

7. When is GOST Certification Required?

(1) Products currently not covered by EAC certification continue to require GOST certification from respective countries.

(2) Special permits and registrations still follow the regulations of each country.

(3) Voluntary product certification continues to follow the respective certification systems of each country.

Additionally, it is worth noting: EAC certification applicants must be legal entities within the five EAEU member countries. This differs from GOST certification in Russia, which allows overseas entities to apply.