G/TBT/W/377
8 November 2013
(13-6186)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English
 
  RUSSIAN FEDERATION - MEASURE AFFECTING THE IMPORT OF  
UKRAINIAN CONFECTIONARY PRODUCTS 
 
STATEMENT OF UKRAINE AT THE MEETING OF  THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO 
TRADE OF 30 - 31 OCTOBER 2013 
The following communication, dated 7 November 2013,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ukraine. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
1.  Ukraine would like to raise concerns regarding the ban on the import of Ukrainian confectionery products into the Russian Federation, which was introduced on 29 July 2013 based on the 
Resolution of the Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-being 
Surveillance of the Russian Federation (Rospotrebnadzor ) (No. 01/8612-13-23).  
2.  The measure was introduced suddenly and in a non-transparent manner. There was neither 
notification nor any information on this measure provided by the Russian Federation, as required 
by Article 2.9 or 2.10 of the TBT Agreement. In a ccordance with the provisions of Articles 10 and 
2.5 of the TBT Agreement, Ukraine requested on 8 August 2013 relevant information through the 
TBT/SPS EP of the Russian Federation. To our regret, despite several reminders during a two-
month period, Ukraine received neither answers to questions posed, nor any explanation and 
justification for the introduced ban on trade.  
3.  In the statements made to the press, Russia's authority claimed that Ukrainian products were 
inconsistent with labelling requirements related to consumer protection (nutritional value 
information requirements). However, no official evidence concerning violation of legislation on consumer protection was officially submitted to Ukraine.  
4.  It should be noted that the same violation of legislation on consumer protection done by 
domestic producer is punishable by a fine accord ing the Russian Federation legislation (Art. 14.7, 
14.8, 14.15, 14.43 of the Code on Administrative Of fences). Whereas no ban on the placing on the 
market is envisaged.  
5.  Ukraine promptly initiated bilateral consultations with the Russian Federation authorities  with 
all the willingness and preparedness from the Ukrainian side to resolve this issue.  
6.  Late October experts from the Russian Federation authorities finally came to inspect our 
factories. So far we have not officially received any results from this expert inspection. Therefore 
Ukraine expects the Russian Federation will be able  to expeditiously provide it with the official 
reports from the responsible body.  
7.  Ukraine believes that the measure of the Russi an Federation is unjustifiably strict, more trade-
restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective, taking into account of the risks non-fulfilment would create.  
8.  Moreover, the measure is applied in a discriminatory manner that is less favourable for 
Ukrainian products than for like products of national origin and to like products originating in any 
other country. G/TBT/W/377 
 
- 2 - 
 
  9.  Thus, Ukraine requests the Russian Federation  to provide official detailed clarification and 
justification of the measure and its compliance with the provisions of the TBT Agreement as well as the long-awaited answers through the TBT/SPS EP of the Russian Federation.  
10.  Ukraine calls upon the Russian Federation to immediately lift this trade ban and bring the 
governmental TBT measure in line with the TBT Agreement and commitments signed by the 
Russian Federation at accession. 
 
__________