Strengthening of Customs Control When Using EAEU Certificates

In 2026, the customs authorities of the Russian Federation strengthened control over the declaration of imported goods. Within the framework of the risk management system, particular attention is being paid to certificates of conformity issued in other EAEU member states, primarily in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

When such certificates are identified, customs authorities increasingly initiate additional inspections, including requests for confirmation of the importation of product samples on the basis of which conformity assessment documents were issued. If a complete set of supporting documents is not provided, a decision is made to carry out sampling directly from the commercial shipment.

Sampling and additional expert examinations result in delays in customs clearance, both at temporary storage facilities and at customs warehouses. The average duration of laboratory testing is three weeks or longer and depends on the workload of the relevant customs divisions and accredited testing laboratories.

According to Sergey Lopukhov, Deputy Head for Production of the Customs Clearance and Delivery Department at ACEX, the current practice requires foreign trade participants to reconsider their approach to preparing permitting documentation:

“Under current conditions, the mere availability of a certificate of conformity issued in EAEU countries no longer guarantees prompt customs clearance. Customs authorities consistently request confirmation of the importation of samples and the testing carried out on the basis of which the certificate was issued. In the absence of such confirmation, samples are taken directly from the commercial shipment and additional examinations are назначены, resulting in an extension of clearance timelines by several weeks. Therefore, importers need to assess documentary risks in advance and take them into account when planning shipments and delivery schedules.”

In view of the above, in order to simplify and expedite customs clearance, participants in foreign economic activity are advised to be prepared in advance to meet the following requirements:

This information should be considered when planning shipments, delivery timelines, and contractual obligations.