FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS OF THE EURASIAN CUSTOMS UNION

Russian regulations focus on both the certification of the final product and, in certain sectors (meat, dairy, and fish), on the production process.

Starting from July 1, 2013, the reference regulations for food matters were amended for the Eurasian Customs Union, resulting in the enforcement of seven new Technical Regulations (TR Directives) specific to various food sectors

  • TR UD 015/2011 on grain safety

  • TR UD 021/2011 on food product safety

  • TR UD 022/2011 on food product labeling

  • TR UD 023/2011 on fruit and vegetable juices

  • TR UD 024/2011 on products made from animal and vegetable oils and fats

  • TR UD 027/2012 on dietary foods, including foods for special medical purpose

  • TR UD 029/2012 on the safety of food additives, flavorings, and processing aids.

Starting from July 1, 2013, the labeling of food products must be conducted based on Regulation 881 of the Eurasian Customs Union, which incorporates the document EurAsEc TR CU 022/2011.

This regulation defines rules for the labeling of packaged food products and the labeling of packaging containing food.

Together with Belarus and Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation has formed the Eurasian Customs Union, aiming for a free trade market among the three countries. The Eurasian Economic Commission (the body responsible for the functioning of the Customs Union) established a free trade zone for goods and services in 2010, leading to the abolition of border controls among the three countries. This progressive harmonization of trade legislations among Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia included:

  • The establishment of a common tariff regime

  • TR UD 021/2011 on food product safety/h4>

  • A shared system to regulate customs controls and procedures

On January 1, 2012, the member states of the Eurasian Customs Union – Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan – joined the international convention on the harmonized system (HS) for the designation and coding of goods. Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic joined in 2015.

The Common Economic Space, which followed the Customs Union and represents a step towards the Eurasian Economic Union (which was supposed to come into effect in 2015), foresees the gradual harmonization of standards and regulations governing strategic aspects of business:

  • The establishment of a common tariff regime

  • Public procurement

  • Subsidies to industry and agriculture

  • Intellectual property protection

  • Energy resources (exploitation and distribution)

  • Integration of the railway system (including tariff levels).

Furthermore, the Common Economic Space commits the three partners to coordinate macroeconomic policies and promote the development of integrated sectoral markets.

For Italy:

  • It ranks fourth in terms of total trade volume, with $15.175 billion (equivalent to 6.8% of the total foreign economic activity of the Customs Union)

  • It’s the third-largest destination for exports from the Customs Union, with $12.012 billion

  • Italy is the largest European trading partner of Kazakhstan and the world’s largest importer from Kazakhstan

  • Italian-Russian trade surpassed 27 billion euros in 2011.

Italian companies that already operate in the Russian Federation have the opportunity to:

  • Undertake new commercial and investment activities in Belarus, which has a highly developed industrial (heavy vehicles, tractors, trams, trolleybuses, buses, freight wagons, household appliances) and agricultural system

  • Export to Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan using a single certificate of conformity to certify compliance with most of the technical regulations and standards shared by the three countries (consumer safety, electromagnetic compatibility).

ESI’s technical team supports Italian agri-food industries in navigating the Eurasian and Russian regulatory systems, and with the assistance of ITA Group’s regulatory specialist team, oversees label review and implementation as well as specific product formulations. Contact ESI’s experts for your consultation and experience the difference of working with a global partner.

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