RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.4/Add.1 
2 November 2004 
 (04-4664) 
Working Party on the Accession  
of the Russian Federation Original:   English 
 
 
  
ACCESSION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 
 
Checklists of Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary
 
Issues in the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO  
 
Checklist of SPS Issues 
 
Addendum  
 
  The following submission, dated 29 October 2004, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Russian Federation.  
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Page 2 Checklist of SPS Issues in the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO  
 
WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time 
Required to Undertake the Commitment 
1. Generally agreed 
principle in WTO accession negotiations. 1. Standstill: introduction of new 
standards, animal health regulations and food safety 
regulations shall conform to SPS 
Agreement principles.  The Russian party does not intend to complicat e access to its markets by introducing a less 
favourable treatment for the purposes of the SPS Ag reement. Such stand-still principle is provided 
for in the Russian legislation. The basic SPS conformity parameters are defined in Russia’s draft 
commitments in respect of access to goods and serv ices markets. Measures for market protection will 
be undertaken in full compliance with Russia’s international obligations, the Russian legislation in force, including the provisions of Federal Law No. 184-FZ, of 27 December 2003 “On Technical 
Regulation” written by reference to WTO Agreemen ts on TBT and SPS which governs the relations 
arising out of development, adoption, application, and fulfillment of mandatory requirements on a voluntary (non-obligatory) basis. The law has entered into force on 1 July 2003, it envisages seven-
year transitional period for the development an d adoption of relevant technical regulations.  
 All sanitary, epidemiological, veterinary and phyto sanitary measures maintained by the Russian 
Federation are maintained to such extent as requir ed to protect human, animal  and plant health only. 
Development and introduction of new standards, norms, requirements and oversight procedures will proceed in strict conformity  to WTO SPS Agreement.  
 
As Russia is preparing to accede to the WTO, the standstill principle has been implemented through 
the Interministerial Programme of Measures to  Ensure Compliance with  the WTO TBT Agreement 
and the WTO SPS Agreement for 1999 – 2001 and will be maintained under a similar further 
programme for 2002 – 2005.    
2. Article 7 and 
Annex B.3. 2. Establishment and operation of a 
single Contact Point for 
Information ("Enquiry point").   Article 44 of Federal Law No.184-FZ provides for  the creation of a Federal Information Center for 
Technical Regulations and Standards.  
 
A single information system designed to provide interested persons with information on documents contained in the Federal Information Center for Technical Regulations and Standards is created and 
functions in the Russian Federation in manner and on terms specified by the Government of the 
Russian Federation (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 500 of 
15 August 2003 “On the Federal Information Center for Technical Regulations and Standards and the 
Single Information System for Technical Regulation”).  
Interested persons have free access to the in formation resources that are being created. 
 A Russian Single Contact Point for TBT/SPS (“TBT/ SPS Enquiry Point”) was set up by  Federal 
Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology on the basis of All-Russia Research Institute for 
Classification, Terminology and Information in St andardization and Quality  (VNIIKI). The function  
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accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time 
Required to Undertake the Commitment 
of the TBT/SPS Enquiry Point is to provide the necessary SPS-relate d information to all interested 
parties, including foreign participants of international trade. 
 This Enquiry Point is the centre of a comprehensive information network encompassing federal and 
regional reference points, including  specialised information centers of the Ministry of Health and 
Social Development of the Russian Federation (sanita ry and epidemiological i ssues) and the Ministry 
of Agriculture of the Russian Federation (veterinary and phytosanitary issues). 
 
Address of the Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point:  
 4 Granatny per., Moscow 103001 Russian Federation;  
 tel./fax (007 095) 230 25 98;  e-mail: ENPOIN TO@VNIIKI.RU. 
 
Address of the Ministry’s of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation Centre for Regulation and Certification is:  
 
 18/20 Vadkovsky per., Moscow 101479 Russian Federation;   tel. (007 095) 978 2496, fax (007 095) 973 1976; 
 e-mail: snodeadmin20@gost.ru
  
 
Address of the Principal Computing Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation: 
  15 Krzhizhanovskogo street, Moscow, Russian Federation;  
 tel/fax 124-77-96, website www.aris.ru
;   
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3. Articles 7 and 
Annex B, also 
G/SPS/7. 
 
(a) Annex B.5(b) and 
Annex B.10. 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
(b) Annex B.5(a). 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 3. Transparency: notification and 
access to documentation: 
  
(a) identification of authority 
responsible for making notifications to the WTO and 
ensuring transparency obligations 
are met on an ongoing basis;  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
(b) establish guidance or law 
requiring publication of proposed measures at an early stage for 
comment; 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
(a) In accordance with Article 9 of Federal Law No.184-FZ, development of a draft technical 
regulation shall be notified in the press organ of the federal executive authority for technical regulation and in electronic form in a public use information system. It will also be responsible 
for making notifications to the WTO and ensuring transparency obligations are met on an 
ongoing basis. A Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology was established pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation  of 20 May 2004 “On the 
Structure of the Federal Executive Authorities”. Regulation on the procedure for publication, 
the amount of fees for publication of notifications of the development, discussion, and expert review of draft technical regulations, legislativ e acts, and other regulatory legal acts has been 
approved by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 673 of 
5 November 2003 “On Publication and Amount of Fees for Publication of Documents Relating to the Development, Discussion, and Expert Review of Draft Technical Regulations, Draft 
Legislative Acts, and other Regulatory Legal Acts on Technical Regulations”.  
  Preparation of the necessary SPS-related materials and documents for the Russian TBT/SPS 
Enquiry Point  pertains to the authority of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation 
(Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumers Rights Protection and Human Well-Being 
(sanitary and epidemiological issues) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia  (state 
veterinary surveillance and quarantine issues).    
 
(b) An official “Newsletter (Ves tnik) of Technical Regulation” containing notifications of the 
development and of the end of public discussion of draft technical regulations, legislative acts, and other regulatory legal acts in the area of technical regulation and sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures has been published since December 2003. 
  At present, the Russian TBT/ SPS Enquiry Point  is publishing a specialized  journal “Bulletin 
(Vestnik) of the Russian Enquiry Point”  containing draft regulatory legal documents. Draft 
sanitary rules and norms have also been publis hed in the Bulletin. This WTO requirement also 
is stipulated in Federal Law No. 184-FZ and (t his WTO requirement) will be implemented after 
Russia’s accession to the WTO. 
  At present, listings of newly developed sanitary legislation are also published in specialized 
journals. The development programme for state sanitary and epidemiological regulation in 2002  
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Required to Undertake the Commitment 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
(c) Annex B.5.(c).  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
(d) Annex B.5(d).  
 
  
 
  
 
  
(c) implement through legislation or 
administrative procedures a requirement to provide copies of 
proposed measures to WTO 
Members; and  
 
 
  
 
 
(d) implement through legislation or 
administrative procedures a requirement to provide a 
reasonable period of time for 
comment from WTO Members and the public, and establish a 
procedure for incorporating 
comments without discrimination; – 2005 may be viewed on the Ministry’s of Health Regulation and Certification Center web 
page (“Documents” category) at www.crc.ru
. Since September 2000, the “Bulletin of 
Regulations and Guidelines of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Authority of the Ministry of Health of Russia” comes out quarterly. The 17
th issue of the Bulletin is currently 
ready for publication.  
  Regulatory and legal documents on veterinary and phytosanitary measures are published in the 
“Information Bulletin of the Ministry of Agricu lture of the Russian Federation”, “Veterinary 
Practice” magazine, newspapers “Veterinary Consultant” and “Veterinary Gazette”.  
 
(c) Federal Law No. 184-FZ of 27 December 2003 “On Technical Regulation” (point 4, Article 9) 
requires all developers of technical regulati ons to publish new drafts and incorporate the 
comments of interested parties and provide the WTO Members with lists of proposed measures.   
 
 This provision will also be included in regulat ory legal acts relating to the protection of human, 
animal, and plant health. Curr ently the plans for development and review of regulatory 
documents and guidelines are included in the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulation 
Development Program for 2002 – 2005 approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on 29 December 2001 (see section 3 B). A schedule of development of main 
technical regulations is provided in the Interm inisterial Program of Measures (see section 1). 
 
(d) The Federal Law “On Technical Regulation” provides a sufficient period of time (no less than 2 
months) for comments from WTO Members and interested persons regarding newly developed Russian technical regulations, and sets forth th e requirement to consid er and incorporate any 
relevant comments and proposals. 
  At present, comments and proposals are considered and incorporated without discrimination 
unless capable of adversely affecting protection of human health, human environment, animal 
and plant health. Prior to final approval of a draft document, a discrepancy protocol is produced substantiating the reasons for incorporating or failure to incorporate comments and proposals 
and which is presented for discussion by the interested parties in conference.   
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4. Article 2.2. 4.  Nece ssity: measures are applied 
only to the extent necessary to 
protect human, animal and plant health.  Pursuant to Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the 
Population” dated 30 March 1999, the purpose of sanitary and epidemiological requirements is to 
eliminate environmental factors dangerous for man, ensure product safety, protection of human life and health, as well as prevention of occurrence and dissemination of diseases. Such sanitary and 
epidemiological requirements are pa ssed in the form of sanitary rules and hygienic regulations, that 
are subject to subsequent state registration with the Ministry of  Justice of Russia and official 
publication, and are enacted, as a general rule, no sooner than 3 months after their adoption. 
Extraordinary measures require a resolution by th e Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian 
Federation and remain in effect until the danger is liquidated.   
Pursuant to the requirements of Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 4979-1 “On Veterinary 
Service” dated 14 May 1993 and the International Animal Health Code  of the International Office of 
Epizootics, relevant measures are applied only to the extent necessary to protect human and animal 
health. Extraordinary measures require a resolution by the Chief State Veterinary Inspector of the 
Russian Federation and remain in effect until th e source of a transmittable animal disease is 
liquidated. 
 
The exporting countries are notified of all meas ures through their Embassies in the Russian 
Federation. In the case of clear and present danger  to human and animal lif e and health due to an 
epizootic in the exporting countries an immediate decision to suspend import will be taken based on 
the official information of the International Office for Epizootics (IOE) or information provided by 
the veterinary service of the exporting country. In su ch a case Embassies of the exporting countries in 
the Russian Federation will be promptly notified.   
Measures restricting imports of animal products reflect proposals from the veterinary services of the 
importing countries provided that such proposals are timely and science-based.    
Under Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 268 “On the State Plant 
Quarantine Service of the Russian Federation” date d 23 April 1992, phytosanitary quarantine applies 
only to the extent necessary to prevent import and acclimation of ite ms subject to qu arantine in the 
Russian Federation. 
 Federal Law No. 99-FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” of 15 July 2000 provides framework principles 
for implementing plant quarantine in the Russian Federation.  
 Pursuant to the SPS Agreement, Russia as well as the other countries has the right to introduce 
phytosanitary measures in respect of insufficiently studied hazardous organisms and carry out  
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phytosanitary risk assessment in accordance with international risk assessment techniques 
(standards). 
 In view of the adoption of Federal law No. 184- FZ relevant amendments and supplements will be 
made to all SPS-related legislative acts. Rules of  scientific validity of regulation are specially 
reflected in Federal Law No. 184-FZ (Article 6, point 9). 
5. Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 
5.2.  5. Science-based regulations: 
regulations governing animal and plant health protection and food 
safety control shall be based on 
scientific evidence.  Pursuant to Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the 
Population” dated 30 March 1999, regulations governing human health protection and food safety shall be based on comprehensive scientific ev idence and relevant international experience 
(Article 38).  
 
Pursuant to Law No. 4979-1 of the Russian Federa tion “On Veterinary Service” dated 14 May 1993, 
any existing and newly developed veterinary regulatory documents have to be based on scientific evidence or international requirements.  
 
The Federal Law “On Quarantine of Plants” and Resolution of the Government of the Russian 
Federation No. 268 “On the State Plant Quarantin e Service of the Russian Federation” dated 
23 April 1992, require that phytosanitary risks and their management (i.e. phytosanitary measures) 
must be supported by scientific evidence, and prohibit application of phytosanitary measures for purposes other than pl ant quarantine, etc.  
 
According to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the recommendations of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO), science-based phytosanitary 
measures must be evidenced by research projects based on inter-national guidelines (standards).  
Rules of scientific validity of regu lation are specially reflected in Federal Law No. 184-FZ (Article 6, 
page 9).  
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Required to Undertake the Commitment 
6. Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 
3.4. 6. Harmonization: to the maximum 
possible extent, the WTO 
Members shall follow international standards, 
guidelines, and recommendations 
in establishing SPS measures.   Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population” dated 
March 30, 1999 (Article 38) and the Statute on the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulation 
approved by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 554 dated July 24, 2000 (Section 5 and 6), require that international requirements and recommendations must be analyzed and 
used in the national sanitary regulations and legisl ation to the extent it is practicable and reasonable 
to do so. The harmonization proceeds by reference to the documents of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimetarius Commission, WHO recommendations, EC documents and documents of other 
international organizations. 
 Relevant provisions are included in Law of the Russian Federation No. 4979-1 “On Veterinary 
Service” dated May 14, 1993 and Resolution of the Government of the Russi an Federation No. 268 
“On the State Plant Quarantine Serv ice of the Russian Federation” dated April 23, 1992. Notably, for 
the purposes of substantiation of a phytosanitary measure, the above instruments refer, wherever 
applicable, to recommendations of IPPC an d EPPO and international standards.  
 For the purposes of WTO accession, Russia is re viewing its legislative and regulatory acts, 
guidelines and procedural documents related to valuation and control of products and goods to ensure 
their compliance to international standards and requirements. Such works will continue though the effectiveness and expedition are conditional on the availability of budgetary financing and foreign 
technical assistance.* 
7. Article 4. 7. Equivalence: Members shall 
recognize measures maintained by other Members provided that the 
same level of protection is 
achieved. Russia is complying with the equivalence principle for the purposes of the SPS Agreement as long as 
veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary measures ma intained by other countries achieve the necessary 
level of protection of public, animal and plant health.  
 
The procedure for sanitary and ep idemiological examination of produ cts and issuance of sanitary and 
epidemiological opinions establishing conformity (or non-conformity) of products to sanitary and 
epidemiological requirements are provided by Russian law, resolutions of the Government of the 
Russian Federation and Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 325 “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Assessment of Products” dated August 15, 2001 as amended and 
supplemented by Order of the Ministry of Health of Russia No. 84 dated March 18, 2002 (Order of 
the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 217 of July 20, 1998 is inoperative).   
 
The procedure for veterinary and sanitary examination of animal products and primary products and issuance of a veterinary opinion establishing conformity (or non-conformity) of products to 
veterinary and sanitary requirements are provided by the veterinary legislation of the Russian 
Federation, resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation, the “Instruction on the Procedure for Issuance of Veterinary Accompanying Documents for Cargoes Regulated by the State  
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Veterinary Surveillance Authority” approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Products of 
the Russian Federation on April 12, 1997, No. 13-7-2/871 and registered with the Ministry of Justice 
of the Russian Federation on May 22, 1997, No. 1310.     
In terms of phytosanitary control, the procedures and the authority to conduct laboratory analysis and 
laboratory examination of regulated products are provided by Federal Law 99-FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” dated July 15, 2000 and the Regulations on the State Service for Quar antine of Plants in the 
Russian Federation approved by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 268 
dated April 23, 1992 (as amended and supplemented on October 1, 1998).  
8. Article 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. 8. Risk Assessment: obtaining 
scientific evidence and conducting 
risk assessments to ensure that 
measures are science-based and applied only to the extent 
necessary to protect human, 
animal and plant health.  Under current legislation of the Russian Federation (Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and 
Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population” da ted March 30, 1999, Federal Law No. 99-FZ “On 
Quarantine of Plants” dated July 15, 2000, Law of the Russian Federation No. 4979-1 “On 
Veterinary Service” dated May 14, 1993, Resolutio n of the Government of the Russian Federation 
No. 268 “On the State Plant Quarantine Service of the Russian Federation” dated April 23, 1992, and 
Federal Law No.184-FZ dated December 27, 2002 , and Federal Law No. 184-FZ dated December 
27, 2002) (Article 6) all measures undertaken ar e based on scientific evidence and risk assessment 
(examination of the degree of potential threat latent in a harmful factor or commodity) and are 
applied only to the extent that is necessary for protection of human health and environment, and 
animal and plant health. The curren t state regulation system is organized to the extent allowed by the 
technical and economic capabilities of the country.   
 
Russia envisages further improvement of regulation of risk assessment through harmonization with international risk assessment methods, including with due regard to economic factors, through a 
profound analysis and development of theoretical solutions, perfecting methods of analysis and 
control of safety of products for human, animal and plants health. The success of this effort-consuming undertaking will largely depend on the fina nces available, foreign technical and expert 
assistance and consultations, access to modern techno logies and control and analytical equipment for 
research institutions and product control laboratories.*    
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9. Article 6 and 
Annexes A.6 and A.7.  9. Regional characteristics: measures 
shall reflect the regional 
characteristics both of the areas from which products originate and 
the areas for which they are 
destined.   All measures maintained under sanitary legislation apply without discrimination to both the area of 
origin of the goods and the target area. Regional ch aracteristics are relevant only for the purposes of 
risk assessment of different factors, including the public nutrition structure, and subject to the permitted daily dose (PDD) recommended by international organizations. Pursuant to the Statute on 
the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulation approved by Resolution of the Government of the 
Russian Federation No. 554 (Section 4) dated July 24, 2000, the relevant regulation in the Russian Federation is provided by federal sanitary rules and hygienic regulations only. Where necessary to 
accommodate certain special hygienic, epidemiological  and ecological factors an d the state of public 
health in any particular region of the Russian Fe deration, special  federal sanitary rules will be 
adopted for and will regulate such territory.   
 
Veterinary measures reflect the regional char acteristics in accordance w ith Federal Law of the 
Russian Federation No. 4979-1 of May14, 1993 “On Veterinary Service” and requirements of the 
International Office of Epizootics. 
 Regional characteristics are a fact or for the purposes of devising phytosanitary measures for use in a 
particular region.  
10. Article 2.3, and 
Annex C.1(a) and (d).  10. Non-discrimination: unwarranted 
discrimination of Members and differentiated treatment of 
national and foreign suppliers are 
prohibited.  Non-discriminatory treatment is provided by the current legislation of the Russian Federation. 
Sanitary-epidemiological, veterinary and phytosanitary requirements are applied without discrimination to both domestic and foreign products, domestic and foreign suppliers.  The same 
provision is also contained in Federa l Law No.184-FZ (Article 6, point 6).  
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11. Article 8 and  
 Annex C. 11. Control, inspection and approval 
procedures: ensure that 
procedures, including systems for approval of the use of additives or 
for establishing tolerances for 
contaminants in foods, beverages or feedstuffs comply with the 
Agreement.  The Russian Federation continues to improve its procedures for sanitary and phytosanitary control, 
inspection and approval, to such exte nt as the available technologies and finances allow. Notably, the 
Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved new “Regulations on Sanitary and Epidemiological Examination of Products by Order No. 325 of August 15, 2001 (as amended and 
supplemented on March 18, 2002, No. 84). This Orde r specifies and details products that are subject 
to sanitary and epidemiological examination the list of which has been reduced as compared to the previous version, provides a revised validity term for a sanitary and epidemiological approval (5 
years or 1 year for pilot batch). An approval issued by a centre of the State Sanitary and 
Epidemiological Surveillance Authority on concrete kind of production is valid during established period everywhere in the Russian Federation on uniform terms for both domestic and imported 
products. The register is created and conducted for these purpose.  
 Procedures for sanitary and phytosanitary control, inspection and approval will be gradually adjusted 
to the SPS Agreement requirements*. Specific sections relating to pr ocedures for state control and 
surveillance are included in the newly developed draf t federal laws – general and specific technical 
regulations on foodstuffs. 
 
* Given the current economic situation in the country successful implementation of the ab ove measures largely depends on the exte nt to which the following 
arrangements and tasks may be implemented. It is necessary to: 
 
- identify, obtain, translate into Russian, analyze in scientific  and legal terms the relevant new international, regional and national documents related to protection of 
human health and environment, animal health, and quarantine of plants; 
- compare them with the existing Russian regulatory and legal do cuments and guidelines in terms of the realities of world trade  and current regulation of products and 
goods maintained by the exporting countries; 
- conduct further scientific studies and research for the purpose  of improving the risk assessment techniques and preparation o f modern national risk assessment 
guidelines; 
- develop new criteria of safety of products and services; - develop and implement modern control methods for safety crite ria and retooling of academic and research institutions and cont rolling institutions directly involved in 
SPS area; 
- conduct a feasibility study and contribute to the creation of a Russian National Codex Alimentarius Commission to include rep resentatives of all ministries, 
departments, organizations and agencies concerned.   
 
 The success of this work  is conditional on the availabil ity of timely financial support en abling access to information and acq uisition of equipment, on expert 
assistance and consultations, additional specialized seminars, expe rt training, including foreign language courses, exchange of  experience and its use for improvement of the 
existing Russian SPS regulations to provide better guarantees for protection of human, animal and plant health. Russia also nee ds to educate Russian producers and suppliers 
of imported products about the ch anges taking place in the structure and practices  of state surveillance and safety control of products entering the consumer market.  
  
 WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.4/Add.1 
Page 12  To organize and coordinate these works, Russia will need to cr eate supplementary specialized divisions within the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and 
the Ministry of Agriculture manned with professional staff qualif ied to deal with international cooperation issues for WTO purp oses, and to include issues of the WTO TBT 
and SPS Agreements and international cooperation in this area in the curricul a of medical schools.  
 
 Rrus13SPS, September 29, 2004 
 
__________