G/TBT/W/498  
 
19 April 2018  
(18-2441) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 RUSSIAN FEDERATION — RULES OF CEMENT CERT IFICATION  
STATEMENT BY THE EUR OPEAN UNION TO THE C OMMITTEE ON TECHNICA L BARRIERS TO TRADE  
21 AND 22 MARCH 2018  
The following communication, dated 16 April 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union .  
 
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1.  The E uropean Union raised this issue in the previous meetings of the TBT Committee. Russian 
notification G/TBT/N/RUS/48 of the Government Resolutio n No. 930 of 03.09.2015 "On 
amendments of the Single List of Goods Subject to Mandatory Certification"  added cement to the 
list of goods subject to mandatory certification. Russian notification G/TBT/N/RUS/49 contained 
the "Order of Federal Agency for Tech nical Regulation (Rosstandart) "Conformity assessment. 
Rules of cement certification" , setting out the relevant rules for cement certification.  
2.  Both measures were adopted and in force at the time of their notifications. The EU therefore 
reiterates its req uest to Russia to suspend both measures and to re -notify them under the TBT 
Agreement at a draft stage, when WTO Members' comments could still be taken into account.  
3.  The EU deeply regrets not to see any improvement and even worse that Russia continues 
adopting restricting measures that are disproportionate, unjustified and not notified to the WTO 
before their entry into force.  
4.  It still remains extremely difficult to obtain the necessary certificates of conformity . Since the 
introduction of the mandatory cer tificate for cement, in March 2016, no importer has been able to 
ship cement to Russia (excluding those of white cement which is not produced in sufficient 
quantities in Russia). The EU calls upon Russia to inform its customs that valid certificates cannot  
be rejected at the border and to ensure that the EU exporters do not face unjustified refusals at 
the border.  
5.   The EU once more requests Russia to provide the WTO Members with an official copy of the 
amendment of the Russian mandatory standard for cement GOST R 56836 -2016 which introduced 
additional obstacle s to importing cement to Russia . 
6.  Furthermore, the EU again calls upon Russia to notify to the WTO the amended GOST and 
reminds Russia that it should have notified it in sufficient time before its formal  adoption and entry 
into force to allow a proper discussion.  
7.  The EU considers that since the introduction of the mandatory certification for cement Russia 
has consciously prevented any imports excluding of white cement, which Russia needs for its 
industry and requests Russia to remove those trade restrictive practices.  
8.  As regards the inspection controls, section 8.2 fourth sentence of the notified GOST standard 
provides that for imports from third countries the certification body conducts additional inspect ion 
control of each batch of cement supplied. This includes sampling at the border, testing and control 
of all characteristics set out in the standard according to which the certificate of conformity was 
granted. On the basis of the results, the certificat ion body has to make a decision whether to 
confirm, suspend or terminate the certificate of conformity.  G/TBT/W/498  
 
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  9.  Could Russia please explain what is meant by shipment (whether it would mean each wagon, 
whole train or yearly production); by whom and how these sample s will be taken from imported 
cement; how the tests will be performed, their length and whether after sampling and testing, the 
imported cement will be allowed to proceed further to the unloading point and/or to the end 
consumer or whether the imported cem ent will be held at the border until the results of the testing 
are known and a decision on the certificate of conformity is taken which we understand takes on 
average 28 days.  
10.  The EU understands that this provision sets a requirement for " additional insp ection control" 
of each cement batch arriving in Russia.  
11.  It appears this aspect has also been addressed on 11 July 2017 by the Russian Federal Anti -
monopoly Service (FAS) in a warning sent to Rosstandard regarding the need to avoid undertaking 
any action that would involve a discriminatory treatment in the trade of cement from foreign 
suppliers.  
12.  The EU would like to ask Russia to inform about the actions that have been undertaken to 
follow up this opinion.  
13.  As no reply has been provided by Russia in the pre vious TBT Committee meetings, the EU 
would like to ask Russia once again for the reasons and justification for additional requirements for 
conformity assessment which affect only imported products. Such requirements may contravene 
both Articles 5.1.1 and 5 .1.2 of the TBT Agreement.  
14.  The EU reiterates its request to the Russian Federation to suspend these measures, leading to 
a de facto ban of cement imports of EU origin, to justify the additional testing processes at the 
border for each cement batch exporte d to the Russian Federation by the EU in light of the TBT 
rules, and to confirm that the strength test does not have to be performed for certified cement as 
it leads to it being blocked at the border.  
15.  The EU welcomes Russia's readiness to continue working with the interested Members on this 
matter.  
 
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