RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/36 
26 June 2007 
 (07-2705) 
Working Party on the Accession  
of the Russian Federation Original:   English 
 
 
  
ACCESSION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 
 
Checklist of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Issues
1  
 
  The following submission, dated 20 June 2007, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Russian Federation.  
_______________ 
 
 
                                                     
 
1 Revision of WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.4/Add.1. 
  
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WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
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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 Federation does not intend to compli cate access to its markets by introducing a less 
favourable treatment for the purposes  of the SPS Agreement. All sanita ry, veterinary and phytosanitary 
measures maintained by the Russian Federation are to be applied only to the extent necessary to protect 
human, animal or plant life or health, as required by  the WTO SPS Agreement. 
Development and introduction of new standards, animal health regulations and food safety regulations 
will carry out in conformity with the domestic le gislation in force and rules and norms of WTO SPS 
Agreement. 
The ongoing work on drafting of the technical regula tions (TRs) in the SPS area is aimed at fulfilling 
this condition. According to Federal Law No.184-FZ “On Technical Regulation”, TRs are documents, establishing requirements on technical regulation issues, which are obligatory for application and 
execution. The Government of the Russian Federation adopted the Program of Development of 
Technical Regulations (Government Decision N 1421-r of November 6, 2004, as amended on May 29, 
2006), which envisages the development of 22 special technical regulations related to the veterinary, 
sanitary and phytosanitary control and supervision. 
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 №184-FZ provides for the establishment of Federal Information Fund for 
Technical Regulations and Standards. This Fund is a state information resource.  
A single information system, designed to provide interested persons with information on documents 
contained in Federal Information Fund for Technical Regulations and Standards, is created and functioning 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 August 15, 
2003 “On the Federal Information Fund for Technical Regulations and Standards and the Single Information System for Technical Regulation”). 
Interested persons are given free access to the in formation resources that are being created. 
Federal Information Fund for Technical Regulations and Standards is established and run by Federal 
State Unitary Enterprise “Russian scientific and t echnical Center of information on standardization, 
metrology and conformity assessment” (FSUE “Standartinform”).. FSUE “Standartinform” operates 
since 2005.  
Within the framework of FSUE “Standartinform” Ru ssian Information Center on standardization, 
certification and to overcoming of technical barriers in trade (RIC  WTO TBT/SPS) has been operating  
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since 1997. In the structure of RIC WTO TBT/SPS there is an Enquiry (dispatching) service (National 
Enquiry Point - NEP), providing the implementation of WTO Agreements on TBT and SPS in corpore.  
The contact information (web-address, addre ss/phone/fax numbers and e-mail) of NEP: 
 
http://www.gostinfo.ru;  Address: 4 Granatny per., Moscow 103001, Russian Federation; 
Phone: +7 (495) 332-56-28, 332-56-59, 225 61 89;  
Fax: +7 (495) 332-56-59,  e-mail: enpoint@gostinfo.ru.  
 
The primary function of RIC WTO TBT/SPS activity is the operative supply of the domestic authorities 
and businesses, as well as foreign trade partners and the Secretariat of the WTO with rules, directives, 
regulations, the domestic and foreign national standards and certification systems. 
NEP provides answers to the requests of interested parties, renders information and documentation on 
TBT and SPS, standards, conformity assessment. 
NEP publishes on the website the list (on month by month base) of WTO member’s notifications on 
TBT and SPS in Russian (http://www.gostinfo .ru/show.php?/ric_vto/reestr_yved.htm). 
3. Articles 7 and 
Annex B, also G/SPS/7. 
 3. Transparency: notification and 
access to documentation: 
 Currently, the transpar ency of the legislative process in the SPS sphere is provided through publication 
of all regulatory legal acts related to SPS measures in official editions: “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, “Sobranie 
zakonodatelsctva Rossiyckoy Federatsii”, “The Bulletin of Regulatory Acts of Federal Executive 
Authorities”, “The Bulletin of international agreemen ts”, “The Bulletin of Regulatory and Methodical 
Acts of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation”, and “The Information bulletin of the Ministry of agriculture of the Russian Federation”. 
There are also some non- official editions, such as “Veterinariy a” magazine, newspapers “Veterinarniy 
Konsultant”, “Veterinary Gazette” and “Zatschita i ka rantin rasteniy” (month edition) as well as in other 
special editions. 
All information on SPS measures and current SPS legislation are presented on websites of: 
- the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation - www.mcx.ru;  
- the Ministry of Health and Social Developm ent of the Russian Federation - www.mzsrrf.ru; 
- the Federal Supervisory Service for Customer’s Rights’ and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) - 
www.rospotrebnadzor.ru;  
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- the Information and Methodical Center  “Expertiza” of Rospotrebnadzor - www.crc.ru . 
The transparency of the procedure of elaboration of technical regulations is provided in the Federal Law 
“On Technical Regulation”. According to its provisions , the author of a draft TR is obliged to provide, 
on demand of any stakeholder, a copy of the draft TR at his disposal. According to Article 9 of the above 
law the Ministry for Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation (further to be referred as MIE) 
jointly with the Public Council on Technical Regulation under the Ministry holds every week public 
hearings of the draft TRs (address:  Moscow, Kitaigorodskiy proezd, 7). The time-table of the public 
these hearings is sited on the web-sites of the Ministry and the Public Council. 
The comments regarding the draft TRs are addressed by any stakeholders directly to the author or to the 
MIE in written form. Contact informa tion of the author of the SPS-rela ted draft TRs can be received in 
the MIE (Department for Technical Regulation and Metrology, phone: +7(495)710-40-44, fax 
+7(495)925-78-61), and in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation (Department for Food and Food-Processing Industry and Quality of Pr oducts, phone +7(495)207-89-62, fax +7(495)975-13-
34). 
Participation of foreign stakeholders in development, public discussions of projects of the TR by the 
active Russian legislation is not restricted. 
Since December 2003, “Newsletter (Vestnik) of T echnical Regulation” was published by Gosstandart 
(afterwards by the Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology). This is an official 
publication, which contains all notifications on the development and outcome of public discussions on draft TRs, reports of expert commissions on technical regulations, draft legislative acts, and other 
regulatory legal documents in th e area of technical regulation. 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
(a) Annex B.5(b) and 
Annex B.10. Whenever an international standard, 
guideline or recommendation does  not exist or the content of a proposed 
sanitary or phytosanitary regulation is 
not substantially the same as the content of an international standard, 
guideline or recommendation, and if 
the regulation may have a significant effect on trade of other Members, 
Members shall: 
(a) notify other Members, 
through the Secretariat, of the The legislative and implementation work in the Russi an Federation is aimed at ensuring harmonization 
of the national legal base with the provisions of in ternational standards, guidelines and recommendations 
(OIE, IPPC, Codex Alimentarius). In particular, ph ytosanitary measures maintained by the Russian 
Federation are based on the recommendations and principles of the IPPC, as well as those of the 
European and Mediterranean Plan t Protection Organization. According to the Decision of the 
Government of the Russian Federation No.159 of 24 March 2006 “On Implementation of the Veterinary 
Measures Regarding Importation of Live Animals and Products of Animal Origin to the Customs 
Territory of the Russian Federation”, while importing to the Russian customs territory of live animals and products of animal origin, in case of contradiction of veterinary requirements, stated in the national 
legislation of the Russian Federation to the international veterinary requirements, operating norms of the 
OIE Code are to be applied.  
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(b) Annex B.5 (a), (c), (d). products to be covered by the 
regulation together with a brief 
indication of the objective and rationale of the proposed regulation.  
Such notifications shall take place at 
an early stage, when amendments can still be introduced and comments 
taken into account; 
(b) - publish a notice at an early 
stage in such a manner as to enable 
interested Members to become 
acquainted with the proposal to introduce a particular regulation; 
- provide upon request to other 
Members copies of the proposed regulation and, whenever possible, 
identify the parts which in substance 
deviate from international standards, guidelines or recommendations;   
- without discrimination, allow 
reasonable time for other Members to 
make comments in writing, discuss 
these comments upon request, and take the comments and the results of 
the discussions into account.  According to the Article 7 of Federal Law №184-FZ the drafting process of the technical regulations in 
the SPS sphere also taking account of the respective international standards, recommendations and other 
documents of international organisations in the relevant areas.  
However, in case the proposed national regulations would be substantially contrary to the relevant 
international standards (For the purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3, there is a sc ientific justification if, 
on the basis of an examination and evaluation of ava ilable scientific information in conformity with the 
relevant provisions of this Agreement, Russian au thorities determine that the relevant international 
standards, guidelines or recommendations are not suffici ent to achieve its appropriate level of sanitary or 
phytosanitary protection.) guidelines or recommendations, or those would not exist, the Russian 
Federation will comply to the notification obligations stipulated by the Annex B of the WTO SPS 
Agreement, as a part of its general commitmen t to fulfill the requirements of the Agreement. 
The agencies involved in the prep aration of the notifications require d by the provisions of the SPS 
Agreement, will be the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Health and 
Social Development and the MEDT as the coordinating authority responsible for providing notifications 
to the WTO.  
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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.  The products produced in, or imported into the territory of the Russian Federation for distribution to the 
population or use in industry, agriculture, civil constr uction development or for transportation with direct 
human involvement, or for private and household use, have to conform to the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological rules, norms and hygiene regulations (Articles 13, 15, 16 of Federal Law No. 52-
FZ). Such conformity is to be confirmed by a san itary and epidemiological approval or, in case of new 
foodstuff, materials and items, by a registration certificate.  
The procedure for sanitary and epidemiological expe rtise of products and for issuing a sanitary and 
epidemiological approval is established under “The Procedure for Conduct of a Sanitary and Epidemiological Expertise of Products", approved by Order of the Ministry of Health and Social 
Development No. 325 of 15 August 2001 (as amended of 18 March 2002). This Order contains a list of 
products subject to sanitary and epidemiological  expertise. The Federal Supervisory Service for 
Customers’ Rights’ Protection and Human Welfare (further to be referred to as Rospotrebnadzor) 
together with Federal Customs Service approve s a list of goods for which the sanitary and 
epidemiological conclusions or certificates of the state registration should be made out at customs clearance (document No. 01-06/30702 of 26 August 2005). This list was published in the Customs 
Bulletin Vol.20 and placed on a web site of Rospotrebnadzor: www.rospotrebnadzor.ru. 
The procedure of sanitary and epidemiological expe rtise is conducted prior to the commencement of 
industrial production or reprocessing in the territo ry of the Russian Federation, and - in the case of 
imported products - prior to conclusion of the contract, and based upon an enquiry of an exporter 
interested in supplying products to the Russian market. The expertise consists of assessment of the 
documentation submitted, additional laboratory expertise, if necessary, and – in case the product complied with all requirements - issuance of sanitary and epidemiological approval. Such approval is 
issued for a given type of products and is valid for five years. This period can be extended providing that 
there have been no violations of the regulations. Applications for approval are to be submitted to the relevant Rospotrebnadzor’s territory body. Sanitary and epidemiological approvals are valid throughout 
the whole territory of the Russian Federation. Imports of products that have not passed a prior sanitary 
and epidemiological expertise are subject to expertise upon importation.  In such cases, approvals are valid for that particular consignment only. Sanitary and epidemiological surveillance is conducted by the 
territorial authorities of Rospotrebnadzor at the stag e of distribution of products on Russia’s domestic 
market. Respective procedures and requirements do not discriminate between domestic and imported products. 
Government Resolution No. 987 of 21 December 2 000 "On State Surveillance and Control in Ensuring 
Quality and Safety of Food Products" delineates the functions of the Federal Service for Veterinary and 
Phytosanitary Supervision (further referred to as Rosselhoznadzor) and Rospotrebnadzor in the expertise  
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of animal products. A sanitary an d epidemiological approval is the confirmation of the conformity of 
goods with the requirements of sanitary legislati on and is the responsibility of Rospotrebnadzor. For 
exportation, importation, and domestic circulation of products, Rosselhoznadzor has to certify that animal products are safe from a veterinary viewpoint and comply with veterinary norms and 
requirements. 
Federal Laws
 No. 52-FZ (Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On San itary and Epidemiological Welfare of the 
Population” dated 30 March 1999) and No. 29-FZ (Federal Law No. 29-FZ “On the quality and safety of 
food products” dated January 2, 2000), and Government Resolution No. 988 of 21 December 2000 "On the State Registration of New Foodstuffs, Materials and Items" impose uniform requirements upon state 
registration both of new foodstuffs, materials and items first produced in the territory of the Russian 
Federation (Russian goods), and goods imported into the Russian Federation for the first time. Sanitary and epidemiological expertise and state registration of products constitute a single process. Based on the 
results of the sanitary and epidemiological expertise,  either a sanitary epidem iological approval, or, for 
the products subject to state registratio n, a registration certificate is issued. 
A state registration certificate is issued for every type of product for the whole period of industrial 
production (reprocessing) in the case of Russian products, or for the whole period of supplies in the case of imported products. State registration of potentially  hazardous substances and types of products is 
performed by Rospotrebnadzor and, in the case of new food products of animal origin, by 
Rospotrebnadzor in conjunction with the MOA (according to Government Resolution No. 262 of 
4 April 2001; Government Resolution No. 987 of 21 December 2000 and Government Resolution 
No.988 of 21 December 2000). Lists of products subject to  state registration are attached to the above 
mentioned Government Resolutions. The requirements and criteria with respect to safety of products for 
the human health and environment pursuant to Articles 1, 2, 12, 13, 15, 16, 37, 38, 39, 41 and 42 of 
Federal Law No. 52-FZ are implemented by state san itary and epidemiological rules and norms which 
are regulatory legal acts of a binding nature for all citizens, individual entrepreneurs and legal entities. 
Import of goods subject to state veterinary control (excluding processed goods) from the countries, in 
which there were no outbreaks of transmissible anim al diseases, is carried out on the basis of written 
import permits issued by Rosselhoznadzor. These permits are provided to importers (legal entities, 
individual entrepreneurs and others) free of charge and are valid for a period of a calendar year. An importer should apply for a permit in written fo rm to the regional veterinary authority of 
Rosselhoznadzor in the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation not less then 30 days before the 
importation takes place. The applica tion should contain desc ription of consignment, purpose of import, 
country of origin, consignm ent’s route and place of storing. Upon th e positive consideration the regional 
veterinary authority addresses Rosselhoznadzor for obtaining the import permit for the consignment in  
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question. Processed goods of animal origin destined for human consumption, which are heat-treated and 
originating from the countries, in which no outbrea ks of transmissible anim al diseases have been 
discovered, are imported to the Russian Federation on the basis of import permits issued under the same procedure. 
Federal Law No. 99-FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” of 15 July 2000 provides with framework for plant 
quarantine in the Russian Federation and implemen tation of phytosanitary measures. According to 
Russian legislation phytosani tary measures applies only to the ex tent necessary to prevent import and 
acclimatization of quarantine objects in the Russian Federation. Pursua nt 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 phytosanitary risk assessment in accordance 
with international risk asse ssment techniques (standards). 
Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 4979-1 “On Veterinary Practices” of 14 May 1993 provides 
with framework for protection of animal and human health and implementation of sanitary and veterinary measures.  
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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.184-FZ “On Technical Regulation” (Article 7) dated December 27, 2002  
veterinary-and-sanitary and phytosanitary measures shall be elaborated and applied on the basis of 
scientific data and also taking account of the resp ective international standards, recommendations and 
other documents of international organizations for the purposes of compliance with the necessary level 
of veterinary-and-sanitary and phytosanitary protection to be determined taking account of the degree of 
actual science-based risk. 
Pursuant to Law No. 4979-1 of the Russian Federation “On Veterinary Practices” dated May 14, 1993, 
any existing and newly developed veterinary regulato ry documents have to be based on scientific 
evidence or international requirements.  
In compliance with the provisions of the WTO Agr eement on SPS Measures, which have stated norms 
and standards of the OIE as the requirements used in the international trade of living animals and 
production of animal origin, the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No.159 of 24 
March 2006 “On Implementation of the Veterinary Measures Regarding Importation of Live Animals and Products of Animal Origin to the Customs Territory  of the Russian Federation” stipulates that while 
importing to the Russian customs territory of live animals and products of animal origin, in case of 
contradiction of veterinary requirements, stated in the national legislation of the Russian Federation to the international veterinary requirements, operating norms of the OIE Code are to be applied. 
Phytosanitary measures maintained by the Russian Federation are based on the recommendations and 
principles of the International Plant Protection Convention (Rome, 1951, edition of 1997) as well as 
those of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.  
Pursuant to Article 38 of Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the 
Population” dated March 30, 1999 sanitary rules and safety criteria should be based on the results of 
scientific research and epidemiological studies, as well as on monitoring of human health and harmful 
environmental factors. Sanitary requ irements are aimed at ensuring the safety of products and human life 
and health. All rules, criteria and requirements in respective fields are applied uniformly and without 
discrimination between domestic and imported goods.  
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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 Epidemiol ogical Welfare 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 legislation to the extent it is practicable and reasonable to do so. The 
harmonization proceeds by reference to the documents of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, WHO recommendations, EC documents and documents of other international 
organizations. 
The aim of legislative and implementation work in the Russian Federation is to ensure harmonization of 
the national legal base with the requirements of th e WTO, OIE (Office Interna tional des Epizooties) and 
IPPC: International Veterinary Codex, Codex Alimentarius and the WTO Agreement on SPS. 
Russian delegation always participates in OIE regular meetings and general sessions, which are held 
annually in France (Paris).  
Russian delegation takes part in IPPC meetings and experts are involved in elaboration of new 
international standards on phytosanitary measures.  
Russian specialists took part in: 
- Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (Germany, 2003,2004,2005); 
- Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (Holland, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 
2005); 
- Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (USA, 2004, 2005); 
- Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Hungary, 2005); 
- Codex Committee on Food Contaminants (Chine, 2007) and etc. 
 
The competent authorities are actively involved in international cooperation in the SPS field. Such international cooperation is carried out, in par ticular, on the basis of bilateral and multilateral 
cooperation agreements a nd accordance with the OIE Code, Codex and IPPC. 
Russian Federation is currently the party to 20 bilate ral and multilateral agreements with third countries 
on food hygiene, safety, sanitary or phytosanitary measures. The list of these agreements is attached.  
Phytosanitary measures applied by the Russian Federatio n are based on the principl es of the International 
Convention on Quarantine and Protection of Plants (Rome, 1951, edition of 1997), recommendations of 
the European and Mediterranean Organization on Quarantine of Plants which member the Russian 
Federation (USSR) is since 1957.  The list of ISPM in  Russian language sited at website of the Ministry  
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of agriculture of the Russian Federation in Rosselhoznadzor section 
(http://www.mcx.ru/index.html?he_id=900). 
The Russian Federation is: 
- the party of 
- International Plant Protection Convention (Rome, 1951, edition of 1997) 
- Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora 
(CITES) from 03.03.1973 
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from 05.06.1992 
- the member of  
- World organization for Animal Heath (OIE) from 1927 
- Commission Codex Alimentarius from 1961  
- World Heath Organization  
- European and Mediterranean Organization on Quarantine of Plants, 1957 
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) from 29.07.2006. 
- International Sugar Organization (ISO), from 07.01.2003 
- the participant of  
- Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), from 10.07.1987. 
- International Grain Counc il (IGC), from 01.07.1995 г. 
- the observer of 
- Fisheries Committee of OECD, 1961 г. 
- Group on Cereals, Animal Feeds and Sugar of Committee for Agriculture of OECD 
- Group on Meat and Dairy Products of  Committee for Agriculture of OECD  
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7. Article 4. 7. Equivalence: Members shall 
recognize measures maintained 
by other Members provided that the same level of protection is 
achieved. Russia would comply with the equivalence principl e for the purposes of th e SPS Agreement if the 
exporting country objectively demonstrates that its measures achieve Russian appropriate level of 
sanitary or phytosanitary protection.   
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 Russi an 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).   
In order to facilitate trade the Russian Federation has concluded agreements on veterinary certificates for 
the most types of animal products with the veterinary services of many exporting countries. The 
requirement to obtain a veterinary certificate of the form establishe d by such an agreement is not 
mandatory for performing imports into Russia. In the absence of such an agr eement with the exporting 
country animal products are exported to the Russian Federation under common veterinary certificates 
based on the requirements listed in Letter of the State Veterinary Service of the Russian Federation No. 13-8-01/1-1 – 3-7 of 23 December 19992. Veterinary certificates contain guarantees of the state 
veterinary service of the exporting country that the products fulfilled the terms and conditions of import.  
The certificate also includes inform ation on the veterinary situation in the exporting country at the 
moment of production and export of products and raw materials of animal origin to the Russian 
Federation with regard to highly dangerous animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, cattle plague, African swine fever, etc. The certificat e should confirm the absence of such diseases. 
                                                      
2 Are placed in Konsultantplus.  
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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 Welfare of the Population” dated 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, Resolution of the Gove rnment of the Russian Federation No. 268 “On the 
State Plant Quarantine Service of  the Russian Federation” dated April 23, 1992, and Federal Law №184-
FZ dated December 27, 2002, and Federal Law No. 184-FZ dated December 27, 2002) (article 6) all 
measures undertaken are based on scientific evidence and risk assessment (examination of the degree of 
potential threat latent in a harmful factor or comm odity) and are applied only to the extent that is 
necessary for protection of human  health and environment, an d animal and plant health.  
Pursuant to Federal Law No.184-FZ “On Technical Regulation” (Article 7) dated December 27, 2002 the 
provisions of international standards, recommendatio ns of international organisations of which the 
Russian Federation is a member, the incidence of di seases and pests and also measures adopted by 
suppliers for combating diseases and pests, ecological conditions, economic consequences associated 
with the possibility of harm , the amounts of spending on measures to prevent harm shall be taken into 
account in the evaluation of the degree of risk. 
The policy of the Government of the Russian Federation is aimed at ensuring that its veterinary, sanitary 
or phytosanitary measures are based on an assessment, as appropriate to the circumstances, of the risk to 
human, animal or plant life or health, taking into account risk assessment techniques developed by 
relevant international organizations. The principle of regionalization is also widely used when deciding 
to take a measure. Acceptance of veterinary certificates  issued by foreign veteri nary services is also a 
common practice in the framework of  bilateral agreements, or where such foreign veterinary service 
demonstrates efficient compliance of its domestic veterinary rules and implementation practices to the 
rules and norms of international organizations such  as OIE, the Codex Alimentarius FAO Commission 
and IPPC, and with Russian requirements based on such rules and norms. 
All phytosanitary measures are applied in accordance with IPPC standards and ba sed on risk assessment. 
The Federal State Establishment “All-Russian Center  on plant quarantine” (FGU “VNIIKR”; Moscow 
region) is responsible for respective studies.     
All sanitary and veterinary measures are applied in accordance with OIE recommendations and based on 
risk assessment (Section 1.3. OIE, 2006). The follo wing institutions inter alia are responsible for 
respective studies: the FGU “Federal  Center for animal heath protec tion” (Vladimir) and the FGU “All-
Russian Center on quality of medicine for animals and feed” (Moscow).   
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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.   Should imported products be destined for several re gions, the import quarantine permit is issued by 
Rosselhoznadzor. When only one region was targeted, the import quarantine permit is issued by the 
respective regional authority of Rosselhoznadzor. Applications for an import quarantine permit are required to describe the product in question, th e country of origin, the exporting country, size of 
consignment, terms of importation, destinations, and cross-border checkpoints. The import quarantine 
permit indicates the phytosanitary re quirements for the products subject to quarantine. Each consignment 
of products subject to quarantine have to be accomp anied by a phytosanitary cer tificate confirming that 
phytosanitary state of the product conforms to the conditions specified in the import quarantine permit. 
Phytosanitary certificates are issued  in the exporting country by agencies of the official national plant 
protection organization.  
Russian legislation in plant quarantine sphere is base d on IPPC provisions and international standards on 
phytosanitary measures. Accordingly regionalizati on applies to all imported regulated products.  
All measures maintained under sanitary legislation apply without discrimination to both the area of 
origin of the goods and the target area. Regional charact eristics 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 Resolutio n 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 onl y. Where necessary to accommodate certain special 
hygienic, epidemiological and ecological  factors and the state of public health in any particular region of 
the Russian Federation, special federal sanitary rules w ill be adopted for and will regulate such territory.   
Regional characteristics are a factor  for the purposes of devising phytosanitary measures for use in a 
particular region.   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/36
 Page 15WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time 
Required to Undertake the Commitment 
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 curr ent legislation of the Russi an Federation. Sanitary-
epidemiological, veterinary and phytosanitary rules,  criteria and requirements are applied uniformly to 
all foreign and domestic products and suppliers and without discrimination to domestic and foreign products and suppliers.   
The current legislation of the Russian Federation in th e veterinary sphere is uniform for all veterinary 
services of subjects of the Russian Federation and es tablishes identical requirements both to foreign and 
domestic goods and manufacturers (the Articles 1, 14, 15, 18 of Law of the Russian Federation No.4979-
1 of May 14, 1993 “On Veterinary Practices”). 
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 Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved “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 Order 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 du ring established period everywhere in the Russian 
Federation on uniform terms for both domestic and imported products. The register is created and 
conducted for th ese purpose.  
Based on Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population” dated 
March 30, 1999 the sanitary-epidemiological rules and norms “Hygienic requirements on food safety and 
food value” (SERN) were enacted. SERN set up hygienic safety and value norms on food for humans, 
and also requirements on compliance of these norms for production, import and turnover of food products.  
Procedures for sanitary and phytosanitary control, inspection and approval will be gradually adjusted to 
the SPS Agreement requirements. Specific sections  relating to procedures for state control and 
surveillance are included in the newly developed draft federal laws – general and specific technical 
regulations on foodstuffs. 
 
 
 
 
 WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/36 
Page 16  
 
  Annex
 
 
List of Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements in the SPS Sphere,   
to which the Russian Federation is Party  
 
1. The Agreement between The Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the United States of America on agriculture  biotechnology, Hanoi, 19 November 2006; 
2. The Agreement between The Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the United States of America on importation of beef, Hanoi, 19 November 2006; 
3. The Agreement between The Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the United States of America on importation of pork meat, Hanoi, 19 November 2006; 
4. The Agreement between The Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the United States of America concerning inspection and certification of slaughter, processing, and cold storage facilities to be in the offici al list of facilities which are allowed to export 
poultry and poultry products and pork and pork products to the Russian Federation, Hanoi, 
19 November 2006; 
5. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Republic of Macedonia for the cooperation in  the field of veterinary science, Moscow, 
16 October 2003; 
6. The Agreement for the law protection of sorts of  plants (The Community of the Independent 
States, Moscow, 16 March 2001 
7. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Hungarian Republic for the cooperation in the field of veterinary science, Budapest, 
30 September 1999; 
8. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Greek Republic for the cooperation in the field of veterinary science, Athens, 
28 July 1999; 
9. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Turkish Republic for the cooperation in the field of veterinary science, Moscow, 
5 November 1999; 
10. The Agreement for the cooperation in the field of  preservation and use of genetic resources of 
cultural plants of the states-participants of  the Community of the Independent States of 
1 July 1999; 
11. The protocol on the uniform order of appli cation of technical, medical, pharmaceutical, 
sanitary, veterinary, phytosanitary and ecological  standards, norms, rules and requirements 
concerning goods imported into the state-partic ipants of the Customs Union agreements”, 
ratified by the Russian Federation on 25 August 1999; 
12. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Argentina Republic for the cooperation in the field of quarantine and protection of plants 
(with lists of pests, diseases of plants a nd the weeds having quarantine value), Moscow, 
26 June 1998;  WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/36 
 Page 17 
 
 
  13. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the United States of America for the sale of  the agricultural goods, Moscow, 23 December 
1998; 
14. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the New Zealand for the cooperation in the fi eld of veterinary science, Moscow, 15 May 
1998; 
15. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Democratic People’s Republic  of Korea for the cooperation in the field of veterinary 
science, Moscow, 14 October 1997; 
16. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the cooperation in the field of quarantine and 
protection of plants (with lists of pests, di seases of plants and the weeds having quarantine 
value), Moscow, 14 October 1997; 
17. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Republic India for the cooperation in the fiel d of quarantine and protection of plants (with 
lists of pests, diseases of plants and the w eeds having quarantine value), Moscow, 25 March 
1997; 
18. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Union Republic of Yugoslavia for the coopera tion in the field of quarantine and protection 
of plants (with lists of pests, diseases of pl ants and the weeds having quarantine value), 
Belgrade, 31 October 1996; 
19. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Union Republic of Yugoslavia for the coope ration in the field of veterinary science, 
Belgrade, 31 October 1996; 
20. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Ukraine for the 
cooperation in the field of quarantine of plants (with lists of pests, diseases of plants and the 
weeds having quarantine value), Moscow, 27 August 1996;  
21. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
the Turkmenistan for the cooperation in the field of quarantine of plants (with lists of pests, 
diseases of plants and the weeds having quarantine value), Moscow, 18 May 1995; 
22. The Agreement between the Government of th e Russian Federation and the Government of 
Mongolia for the cooperation in the field of quara ntine and protection of plants (with lists of 
pests, diseases of plants and the weeds ha ving quarantine value), Moscow, 11 November 
1993; 
23. The Agreement for the cooperation in the field of veterinary science (The Community of the 
Independent States), Moscow, 12 March 1993; and 
24. The Agreement for the cooperation in the field of  quarantine of plants (with lists of quarantine 
pests, diseases of plants and the weeds). (The Community of the Independent States), 
Moscow, 13 November 1992. 
__________