One of the sectors that, in our view, has most growth potential in the Russian market is imported footwear. There are already international brands that have established themselves for some years now in Russia and the Eurasian Union, and many others are about to enter a market that is especially willing to import new styles and designs from abroad.
Regarding the certification, we must take into account that, in order to export footwear to Russia, it’s as if there were two, or even three, different types of certificates. We’re going to start with the less complicated one.
The simplest certification: Adult footwear
In the case of regular daily footwear – either classic shoes or sports shoes – we can apply the most “friendly” version of the EAC regulations. In order to export adult footwear to Russia and the Eurasian Union, you will need to obtain an EAC Declaration of Conformity. In these cases, laboratory tests must be carried out (as in the case of wine and oil), but it is usually possible to bring together different tariff headings (or HS codes) in a single document, and thus reduce costs.
The Declaration of Conformity is based on the Union’s following Technical Regulations
ТР ТС 017/2011 “О безопасности продукции легкой промышленности”
Technical Regulation CUTR 017/2011 – Safety of Light Industry Products
Footwear for children and teenagers, a more strict regulation
The Russian legal system is particularly sensitive towards the safety of minors. In all areas, from automotive to toy regulations, and also the very products we are talking about in this post, there are specific rules that make export/import permits subject to strict compliance to safety requirements.
As regards the following Community legislation:
ТР ТС 007/2011 “О безопасности продукции, предназначенной для детей и подростков”
Technical Regulation CUTR 007/2011 – Product Safety for Children and Young People
In order to obtain this particular EAC Certificate of Conformity, many manufacturing companies decide to also obtain a GOST R ISO 9001 Certificate, which, for 5 years, acts as a letter of introduction for the company. It is a sign of the manufacturer’s commitment to quality and safety, and is usually highly valued by the laboratories in charge of certifying children’s shoes.
In fact, the GOST R ISO 9001 Certificate, as it is not a legal requirement, is not actually necessary. However, it is highly recommended for these types of products, where certifications may be made several times a year.
Safety/industrial footwear: the most complicated procedure
Most footwear intended for industrial use has to be certified according to GOST legislation. In particular, a Fire Certificate based on GOST R 53265-2009 is usually required.
We don’t know if it is due to the cost of this certificate, or due to its stringent requirements, or simply due to a lack of customers, but, at present, there are very few companies in the world that have a permit to export this type of product to Russia. Perhaps, once the obstacle of the Fire Certificate has been overcome, there will be a great business opportunity here. Get in touch with us to find out all the costs of this procedure in detail.
Photo credit: clr-triska
