G/TBT/W/667  
 
22 July 2019  
(19-4827) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION - FEDERAL LAW NO 487 -FZ, PROVIDING A FRAM EWORK FOR 
COMPREHENSIVE USE OF  SPECIAL LABELLING A ND TRACEABILITY OF G OODS AND 
DECISION NO. 792 -R SPECIFYING THE GOODS TO WHICH LABELLING W ILL APPLY  
AND THE DATES OF INT RODUCTION OF THE MAN DATORY  LABELLING  
STATEMENT BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION  TO THE COMMITTEE ON  TECHNICAL BARRIERS  
TO TRADE  - 20 AND 21 JUNE 2019  
The following communication, dated 19 July 2019, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Russian Federation . 
 
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1.  We appreciate continued interest of the WTO membership in this issue.  As stated previously, the 
Russian Federation does not consider the Decision of the Government No. 792-r as the Technical 
Regulation since the decision does not meet requirement s stipulated in the TBT Agreement for 
technical regulations.  
2.  The Russian Delegation reiterate s that adopted measure was elaborated to enhance the 
protection of sensitive products against counterfeiting and  to ensure that all taxes are paid. The 
measure falls under the purview of Article XX paragraph (d) of the GATT 1994.  The measure is taken 
in the  interest of legitimate producers whether they are based in Russia or abroad to ensure level 
playing field and that all producers pay taxes that are due.  
3.  The Decision of the Government  No. 792-r lists goods which will be subject to marking that allows 
traceability of the  product from production facility to retail shop . The marking can be viewed as 
electronic tax stamp. Each consumer will be able to scan digital marking with its smartphone and 
get the information where the product was produced, information a bout importation and the place 
in what retail shop the products is being sold.  
4.  Digital markings do  not set requirements for product characteristics or safety and do  not require 
fulfillment of conformity assessment procedures.  
5.  The marking is applied equally  both for domestically produced products and imported ones.  
6.  The traceability system has been developed in collaboration with and on the initiative of 
international companies including European ones.  
7.  The system  enter ed into force for tobacco products as of 1 March  2019. Until 1 July, domestic 
tobacco producers and importers have to register in the system.  From 1 July 2019 , registered 
importers and domestic producers are entitled to order digital markings. As of 1 March 2020 , imports 
of tobacco products not b earing digital marking is prohibited.  
8.  On 1 July of this year, the system enters into force for footwear products.  However this does  not 
mean that as of 1 July imports of footwear products not bearing digital markings will be prohibited. 
The system will be phased in with similar stages as with tobacco products. At the first stage 
legitimate importers have to register in the system. At the second stage registered importers are 
entitled to buy digital markings, etc. It is supposed that Government resolution ou tlining timeline of 
these phases will be adopted in the course of coming one or two weeks.  G/TBT/W/667  
 
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  9.  As of 1 December 2019 , the system will be extended into particular types of textile and clothing, 
perfumes, tyres and photocameras with similar to tobacco products p hase in stages.  
10.  Currently, the system operates in experimental mode for three products. Specifically, for 
footwear, photocameras and certain types of pharmaceuticals. In the near future experiments will 
be started for milk products, tyres, perfumes, certai n types of clothing and textile.  
11.  Currently, there are 1799 participants of the experiment for footwear that started on 
1 June 2018. Participants of the experiment include importers, domestic producers and retail outlets. 
Within the experiment almost 70 million digital markings have been issued already.  
12.  On pharmaceuticals the experiment has been conducted since 1 February 2017. There are 
18 813 participants, 23 million packages are marked.  
13.  I would encourage exporters from the WTO members that are worried ab out the system to urge 
their Russian importers to take part in the respective experiments.  
14.  Our delegation and responsible authorities of the Russian Federation remain open for 
constructive discussions on this issue.   
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