Due to the often “low” selling price of the products in question, the cost of certification often ends up making it impossible to gain access to the Russian market.
The companies that manage to overcome this barrier are usually ones that specialize in one particular product (high-end dolls, for example) rather than having a wide and diversified catalogue with many tariff headings.
Depending on the type of product and the expected tests, these are the characteristics and indicators that the laboratories check:
- organoleptic characteristics (smell, taste)
- physical characteristics (sound level, electrostatic field intensity, electromagnetic field level, electric field voltage level, integrated infrared radiation flux intensity level, local vibration level, specific effective activity of natural radionuclides)
- health and chemical indicators (chemical migration)
- toxicological and hygienic characteristics (irritant effect on mucous membranes, toxicity index)
- microbiological indicators
If the toy is electric or electronic, then conformity with the CUTR Regulation 004/2011 must also be attained.
Curiosities: some products excluded from the Regulation
In Annex 1 of the CUTR Regulation 008/2011, we can see a list of products which, in a very broad sense, could be considered as toys and yet, in fact, are not. For this type of product, a Regulation 008 Exemption Letter may be sufficient, or, alternatively, if they fall under another regulation, then an EAC Declaration of Conformity based on one or more regulations may be issued.
Here are some examples of what we’re talking about here:
- Christmas tree decorations, artificial Christmas trees and accessories, electric Christmas lights
- Large-scale collector’s models, not intended for children under 14
- Folkloric and decorative dolls not intended for children under 14
- Slot machines
- Jigsaws containing more than 500 pieces
- Catapults and launching devices
- Projectiles with metal points, for launching
- Products containing heating elements and intended for educational use, and under adult supervision
- Toy cars with steam engines
- …
This list, which includes oddities such as slot machines or the requirement of 500 pieces for jigsaws, shows us clearly the criterion behind Eurasian law: if a game is intended for people over 14 years of age, then it cannot really be considered a toy.
Other mandatory markings
Toys that are not intended for children under 3 years of age must be marked with this internationally recognised logo which contains the recommended age group. It must be no smaller than 10 mm. Please note that the minimum size of the EAC logo is 5 mm.
In summary: To enable us to answer you as quickly as possible, remember to send us an email to info@gost-standard.com, with the following information for each toy you wish to export to the Eurasian Union:
- tariff heading
- product name
- Safety documentation in EC environment
- age of users
- photo
