Key points
- EAC conformity is required before release for goods covered by EAEU technical regulations (TR CU / TR EAEU).
- Declarations cover most lower-risk goods; certificates, issued after accredited testing, cover higher-risk goods.
- The applicant must be an EAEU-registered company; a Chinese factory needs an authorised representative there.
- Duty follows one Common Customs Tariff, but VAT is national: 22% in Russia and 16% in Kazakhstan from 2026.
- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are outside the EAEU and run their own certification.
What EAC certification is and where it applies
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus shares one customs territory and one set of technical regulations, known as TR CU or TR EAEU. Each regulation lists the products it covers, their safety requirements and how conformity is proved. A product that passes receives an EAC declaration or certificate, carries the EAC mark and can circulate in all five members. Without valid EAC documents in the official registry, customs will not release covered goods.
Who needs EAC, and which products
If your goods fall under a TR CU or TR EAEU regulation and are imported for sale or use in the union, you need EAC conformity before release. The applicant, the importer or the manufacturer's authorised representative, must be a legal entity registered in an EAEU state. Regulations Chinese exporters meet most often:
- TR CU 004/2011: low-voltage electrical equipment
- TR CU 020/2011: electromagnetic compatibility
- TR CU 010/2011: machinery and equipment
- TR CU 008/2011: toys, and TR CU 007/2011: products for children
- TR CU 017/2011: light industry products such as textiles, clothing and footwear
- TR CU 025/2012: furniture
- TR EAEU 037/2016: restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products
EAC declaration vs EAC certificate
- For lower-risk goods: many textiles, furniture, many electrical goods, packaging
- The EAEU applicant declares conformity, based on its own evidence or tests by an accredited lab depending on the scheme
- Registered in the national registry of the applicant's country
- Typically valid up to 5 years for serial production
- For higher-risk goods: children's products, toys, many electrical items, some machinery, PPE
- Issued by an accredited certification body after testing in an accredited lab
- Serial certificates may need factory assessment or inspection control
- Typically valid up to 5 years for serial production
- For chemicals, cosmetics, food supplements and some food-contact materials
- Issued by the sanitary authorities
- Valid without a time limit while the composition is unchanged
- Often needed in addition to a declaration
| Document | Issued or registered by | Typical goods | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAC Certificate of Conformity | Accredited certification body in an EAEU state | Toys, children's goods, many electrical items, PPE | Up to 5 years (serial) |
| EAC Declaration of Conformity | EAEU-registered applicant, entered in the national registry | Many textiles, furniture, many electrical goods | Up to 5 years (serial) |
| State Registration Certificate (SGR) | Sanitary authorities | Chemicals, cosmetics, food supplements | Unlimited while composition is unchanged |
| Encryption notification | National security agency | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, some phones and routers | Per product |
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How to get EAC, step by step
- Classify the productAgree the 10-digit TN VED EAEU code; it tells you which technical regulations apply.
- Choose the applicantUse the EAEU importer or appoint an authorised representative registered in a member state.
- Confirm the document typeCheck the regulation: declaration, certificate, SGR, or a combination.
- Prepare the technical fileProduct description, drawings or photos, test reports, manuals and labels in Russian.
- Test in an accredited labSend samples where the scheme requires testing; the registry lists accredited labs and bodies.
- Issue and registerThe certification body issues the certificate, or the applicant registers the declaration in the national registry.
- Apply the EAC markMark the product, label or packaging and print labelling in Russian and any national language required.
- Ship and clearCustoms checks the document online in the registry before release.
The EAC mark and product marking codes
The EAC mark was set by Customs Union Commission Decision No. 711 of 15 July 2011. It goes on the product or an attached label, or on the packaging and documents where the product cannot carry it. It must be legible, durable, at least 5 mm high, proportional when resized and contrasting with the background. Labels must be in Russian, plus the national language where required, such as Kazakh in Kazakhstan. Separately, Russia's Chestny ZNAK requires a Data Matrix code on each unit of covered goods before import or in a customs warehouse, or the goods cannot be released. Kazakhstan is phasing in its own system:
| Kazakhstan marking group | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tobacco, shoes, medicines | Mandatory, in force |
| Beer and beer drinks, motor oils | Mandatory from 1 February 2026 |
| Brake fluids and antifreeze | From 1 September 2026 |
| Light industry goods (clothing, textiles) | Phased: 1 December 2026, 1 March 2027, 1 October 2027 |
The single customs tariff, duties and 2026 VAT
All members apply one Common Customs Tariff based on the 10-digit TN VED EAEU code. Duty is paid once, at the first point of entry, on the customs value (CIF to the EAEU border). Most industrial goods carry 0–15%, averaging around 6–7%, and some lines use specific rates per kilogram or unit. Anti-dumping duties apply to some Chinese goods, such as certain steel products, tyres and tableware. VAT and excise stay national, charged in the destination country on customs value plus duty plus excise.
| Member | Standard import VAT (2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 22% | Raised from 20% on 1 January 2026; 10% reduced rate for some food, children's goods and medicines |
| Kazakhstan | 16% | Raised from 12% on 1 January 2026; medicines 5% in 2026 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 12% | Some exemptions by law |
| Armenia | 20% | – |
| Belarus | 20% | 10% for some foods and children's goods |
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Frequently asked questions
What is EAC certification?
Proof that a product meets the EAEU technical regulations: an EAC declaration, an EAC certificate or a state registration, depending on the product, with the EAC mark on the goods.
What is the difference between an EAC declaration and an EAC certificate?
A declaration is made and registered by the EAEU applicant for lower-risk goods. A certificate is issued by an accredited certification body after testing, for higher-risk goods such as toys, children's products and many electrical items.
Which countries require EAC?
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus, the five EAEU members. Uzbekistan recognises many EAC certificates, while Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have their own national certification.
How long does EAC certification take?
Typically 1–4 weeks, depending on the document type and testing. Start before the goods are ready so they do not wait at the border.
How long is an EAC certificate valid?
For serial production, certificates and declarations are typically valid for up to 5 years. A state registration (SGR) has no time limit while the composition stays the same.
Can a Chinese manufacturer apply for EAC?
Only through an authorised representative registered in an EAEU state, or by having the EAEU importer apply. The applicant's name appears on the document.
Do I pay customs duty again when goods move between EAEU countries?
Usually not. Duty is paid once at first entry. VAT is due in the country of sale, and goods imported into Kazakhstan at its lower WTO rates must pay the difference first.
Sources
- Eurasian Economic Commission: Common Customs Tariff and technical regulations
- EAEU legal portal: Treaty on the EAEU and Customs Code of the EAEU
- Eurasian Economic Commission: EAEU technical regulation overview (2020 brochure)
- Wikipedia: Eurasian Conformity mark (Decision No. 711 of 15 July 2011)
- Chestny ZNAK: Russia's national marking system
- Astana Hub: Product marking in Kazakhstan, what already works and what is ahead
- Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE: VAT reform 2026, key changes Russia and Kazakhstan
- Mayer Brown: EU adopts 20th package against Russia and parallel sanctions on Belarus (Apr 2026)
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.