Frequently asked questions

1. I want to export my products to a country in the Eurasian Customs Union. What should I know?

As an exporter of industrial goods, you must ensure that your product complies with all
applicable technical regulations and affix the Eurasian Conformity (EAC) mark. The EAC mark is mandatory and must be put on your product to demonstrate compliance with the Customs
Union’s standards.

2. What is GOST?

GOST was the standardization system in the former Soviet Union. It is obligatory to comply with the EAC regulation but complying with GOST standards is voluntary. The word GOST (Russian: ГОСТ) is an acronym for gosudarstvennyy standart (Russian: государственный стандарт), which means state standard or governmental standard.

3. What is an the EAC mark?

The Eurasian Conformity mark (EAC) is a certification mark to indicate that products comply
with all applicable and have passed all conformity assessment procedures
The EAC marking shall be put onto the product or to the attached label in a visible, legible,
distinctive and permanent manner by the manufacturer or his authorized representative in the EAEU. The size must be at least 5 mm; the proportions must be respected if the EAC marking is reduced or enlarged. If the nature of the product does not allow it, it may be put onto the package (if any) and the accompanying documents.

4. Why do you need an EAC Certification?

If you are going to export to a country in the Eurasian Customs Union and your product
is in scope of one of the Technical Regulations, you will need a Certificate of Conformity, or a
Declaration of Conformity. Certificates issued under other certification schemes are not
accepted (Such as European Pressure Equipment Directive).

5. EAC Certificate and EAC declaration: Which do I need?

Depending on the type of product and the associated risks the applicable certification scheme will be determined. Some certification schemes lead to issue of a Certificate, other schemes lead to issue of a Declaration. This classification or categorization is done by the certifying body, who will need to review product documentation in order to perform the categorization.

6. What steps do we need to take to get an EAC certificate?

This depends on the applicable regulation, but in general process steps are:

• Manufacturer fills in application form
• Certification Body categorizes product and determines certification scheme Manufacturer starts construction and submits technical documentation to certification body
• The certification body creates the required GOST compliant Technical documents
• Manufacturer affixes EAC mark to the product
• In the case of the Declaration certification scheme the DoC will be issued at this stage
• In the case of the Certificate certification scheme in some cases a factory inspection willtake place, in some cases samples will have to be sent to the laboratory for testing
• After successful completion of inspection or testing the Certificate will be issued

7. Why do we need a local representative contract to be signed?

Only a company residing in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union is authorized to apply for EAC certification or the registration of an EAC declaration. Therefore, a contract between the manufacturer and an authorized representative must be closed.

8. Who is authorized to issue these certificates?

The National accreditation bodies accredit certification bodies within their territory. In Russia for instance this is the Federal Service for Accreditation (FSA). The certification bodies are under strict control, which is why the certification procedure must be followed strictly.

9. Is certification necessary for all the products?

No, not all products have to be certified; only products that fall within the scope of a regulation. In order to avoid problems at Customs it is a good idea to have the certification body issue a ‘Refusal Letter’ or ‘Letter of Waiver’. This is an official document providing an explanation that the product is exempt from mandatory conformity evaluation.

10. Is the EAC Certificate valid in other CIS countries?

The EAC Certificate is valid in all the countries of the Customs Union: Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. The remaining CIS countries have their own certification system, for example UkrSEPRO in Ukraine.

11. What does it mean: Certificate of Conformity for Serial production for 5 years?

As a manufacturer or supplier, you can obtain the Certificate of Conformity for serial
production, which has a validity of 5 years. That Certificate enables you ship your products to all the countries of the Customs Union during that period. The certificate is only for products
mentioned in the certificate.

12. What does it mean: Certificate of Conformity for single shipment (batch)?

Although the validity of this certificate can be for 5 years, it is more suitable for one time only
shipments, for instance specific project related designs, where there is no serial production or custom made products which will be manufactured only one time, not continuously.

12. What does it mean: Certificate of Conformity for single shipment (batch)?

Although the validity of this certificate can be for 5 years, it is more suitable for one time only
shipments, for instance specific project related designs, where there is no serial production or custom made products which will be manufactured only one time, not continuously.

13. Do I need to translate the documents into Russian?

You can send us your product’s technical document in English. The certification body will issue the required GOST compliant documents in Russian. If bilingual documents are required (client request) a surcharge will be applicable..

14. Is a separate EAC certificate required for each model?

No, to a certain degree products can grouped into categories and the certificate can contain more than one product or models. We try to keep the number of required documents to a minimum, staying within the limitations of the Regulations.

15. How much does the EAC certification cost?

Prices vary greatly depending on the type of product and the applicable Regulation(s), Applicable test cost and test reports. This has to be analyzed on a case-by case basis, based on product documentation, such as drawings, data sheets, application forms, HS code and any other information available.

16. How much time is needed to issue an EAC certificate?

This obviously also depends on the type of product and the applicable Regulations. Factors influencing this time are

• Number of GOST compliant technical documents that need to be made
• If testing of samples at the laboratory is needed
• If a factory inspection needs to be organized

17. I have an ISO 9000 Certificate and have CE marked products – Do I need to do anything else?

Unfortunately, yes. These certificates and product approvals have no value in the Eurasian Customs Union. The only valid product approval is the EAC Declaration or Certificate, the Hygiene Certificate (SGR) and the Fire Safety Certificate.

18. I have neither ISO 9000 nor any other quality certificate. Nevertheless, may I obtain EAC certification of conformity for my products?

Yes, you may. Having the ISO 9000 is not obligatory. But if you already have ISO 9000, it will be easier for you to prepare all the information for EAC certification, because similar documents are required.

19. When is TRCU 032 applicable?

Pressure equipment is subject to EAC Certification or EAC Declaration according to the TR CU 032/2013. The equipment and the corresponding conformity assessment procedure are divided into 4 groups of hazards. The following criteria are decisive for classification:

• Maximum allowable working pressure (MPa)
• Volume (m3) or nominal diameter (mm)
• The state of the medium (gas or liquid)

1. The group the medium belongs to o Group 1: Hazardous substances (Flammable, oxidizing, combustible, explosive and toxic gases, liquids and vapours)
2. Group 2: Other substances not mentioned in Group 1

Pressure equipment of hazardous classes 3 and 4, that are listed in Appendix 1 of the technical regulation require a Certificate, whereas pressure equipment of hazardous classes 1 and 2 requires a Declaration

The certification process depends on whether it is a contract delivery, serial production or delivery of components. In case of serial production, a manufacturing audit is usually required.

Pressure equipment or assemblies can be subject to multiple technical regulations. In that case the product must comply with all the applicable regulations before it can be placed on the market

For example, pressure equipment is often not only subject to TR CU 032/2013 (pressure equipment) but also to TR CU 010/2011 (machinery and other equipment). If the equipment also has an electrical installation or control cabinet TR CU 004/2011 (low voltage) and TR CU 020/2011 (electromagnetic compatibility) might also be applicable.

20. What is a Fire Certificate?

For Fire safety there are three options:

• FS123 certificate
• EAC CU0 43 certificate
• Voluntary Fire safety certificate. 

The exact requirements can be confirmed once we have the product details to see which regulation it is subject to.

21. What is an "Annual renewal Inspection"? When is it performed?

According to Russian Federation Legislation, "Annual renewal Inspection" is required for products subject to certification where the EAC certificate is for serial production for 3 years or more. Inspection is not required in case of Declarations or when a Certificate is issued for 1 year or for a single shipment certificate. If the annual renewal inspection is not done for the Certificate of Conformity, in this case the accredited Certification Body sends a letter to the Government Customs Committee (GTK) and GOSSTANDART.

22. What are the different applicable EAC CoC and DoC?

Some of the regulations are as follows:

• CU TR 004/2012 – On safety of low-voltage equipment
• CU TR 010/2011 – On safety of machinery and equipment
• CU TR 011/2011 - Lift safety
•  CU TR012/2011 – On Equipment working in hazardous environment (Russian ATEX)
•  CU TR 018/2011 - On safety of wheeled vehicles
•  CU TR 019/2011 - On safety of personal protective equipment
•  CU TR 020/2011 - On electromagnetic compatibility
•  CU TR 032/2013 - On safety of pressure equipment
•  CU TR 043 – on Fire safety equipment

23. Which technical documents are required according to the regulations?

Passport, Safety case, Manual and in some cases, Calculations are required for certification. As per the latest changes in the regulations effective Jan-21 it is required to register the technical documents while/ before a Certificate or Declaration can be issued.

24. Can we have one set of technical documents (Passports, Safety case, Manual and Calculations) for all our products?

Yes, you can; provided that the design of the items is same.

25. The product is produced in several plants or countries. Can all the plants be included in the certificate or declaration?

Only one manufacturer can be indicated in the declaration or the certificate. Other plants can be listed as subsidiaries in the attachment. An overall ISO 9000 certificate might be required in some cases.

26. How can an error in the certificate or declaration be corrected?

It is not possible to make any changes on the EAC certificate or the EAC declaration. The only possibility is to have a new EAC certificate or a new EAC declaration issued. There are however some exceptions for the EAC declaration. An applicant can have a new EAC declaration issued based on existing test reports

• correction of typos
• change of legal form, location or contact details of the applicant
• change of legal form or location of the manufacturer
• change of customs tariff number

Without having to go through a complete conformity assessment procedure again. The old EAC declaration will be withdrawn. This is possible only in the above mentioned cases.

27. Can the certificate or declaration be renewed after expiration?

Generally, a new certificate or declaration must be issued when the period of validity expires. Some technical regulations offer the possibility to renew the document under certain conditions. This is only applicable for certificates, not for declarations.

28. Can a company use an EAC certificate or declaration, issued for another company?

A power of attorney from the owner of the declaration or certificate (from the manufacturer or its authorized representative) as well as a copy of the certificate of conformity gives the right to use it.

29. How are samples for examination sent to testing laboratories?

Products that shall be shipped as samples into the territory of the customs union shall be accompanied by a letter of the testing laboratory. This document shall show the necessity of importing these products in the territory of the customs union as samples, the quantity of samples and their properties. This way customs will let the product enter without it having a certificate or declaration

30. Is it possible to have a certificate issued instead of a declaration?

No, products are either subject to a Certificate or a Declaration. It is not possible to interchange between the DoC and CoC. At the request of the manufacturer a Certificate can be issued instead of an EAC declaration. However, an EAC certificate cannot be replaced by a declaration.

31. What is a technical passport?

The technical passport is an operational document that is issued according to GOST norm 2001-2013. The passport contains important information on the product, such as its technical properties, the lifetime and the storage time, the guarantee of the manufacturer, indications on packaging, the repair work, the warranty, the operation as well as its disposal. The passport is created by experts according to the requirements of the GOST norm 2.601-95 and the respective technical regulation.

32. What information is included in EAC declaration or certification?

Information about the certification body, that issued the certificate/the declaration (name, address, indications on accreditation)

• Information about the applicant: name, address, phone number, e-mail address
• Information about the product: name, type/serial number/model
• Customs tariff number

According to the Decision of the Eurasian Economic Union of December 25, 2012 no. 293 in the declaration/certification following details are required:

• Name of the respective technical regulation
• Information regarding the documents as basis for the conformity assessment (test reports, certificate of quality management systems etc.)
• Additional information: storage conditions, expiration date, packaging etc.
• Validity of the proof of conformity
• Stamp and signature of the expert and the head of the certification body
• Information that does not fit on the main paper of the document (for example subsidiaries or product types) can be attached separately to the document.

33. How many products can be imported with one declaration or one certificate?

There are 3 types of shipment:

• Serial production: The EAC declaration or EAC certificate is valid for all products produced in a similar way by the same manufacturer. In case of a serial production, the number of products that can be imported unlimited.

• Batch production: A certain number of units, that is shipped within the framework of a supply contract. It is a delivery of the same forwarder to the same recipient in the customs union. The conformity assessment certification is valid until the batch has been delivered successfully. The same certificate or declaration cannot be used for future shipments of the same number of commodities.

• Single unit production: The product is shipped once only and with the amount of one single unit in the territory of the EAEU. At the same time the importer does not have any plans for further delivery of those products.

34. What documents are required to get an EAC certificate for pressure equipment?

1. Manufacturer's name, location and contact information
2. Drawings and specifications
3. Filled in production control questionnaire, including annexes which show the following processes are controlled:

• Information about the qualifications of the personnel; Example: WPS, WPQ, continuity records, NDT personnel level II and level III. Certificates of welders (protocols of certification of welders and specialists in non-destructive testing of products)
•  Information about the technological process (data on the materials, semi-finished products, components, welding materials, methods and parameters of welding and heat treatment modes, methods and results of non-destructive testing)
• Basic documents: technological instruction, flowchart, operational chart, technological process control log, measurement chart, list of technological documents, product assembly list, tech. process for welding, assembly
• Factory test reports (final control), non-destructive testing, hydraulic tests – Example: NDT report, hydro test reports

1. Material Certificates
2. Hydrotest reports
3. In the case of certification, a video of the factory indicating the factory name and main production facilities. Please note this is not a video audit, this is a part of the technical file.

For any further questions or clarifications, please reach out to: [email protected] or [email protected]