A GOST Certificate confirms that a product meets the requirements specified in the applicable Russian conformity assessment procedure. Depending on the product and purpose, certification may be mandatory or voluntary.
GOST standards originated in the Soviet standardisation system and remain widely used in Russia and other countries. However, the existence of a GOST standard does not automatically mean that certification to that standard is mandatory.
For products intended for Russia, it is important to distinguish between national mandatory certification, national declarations of conformity, voluntary certification and conformity assessment under EAEU technical regulations.
Legal framework
The applicable requirements depend on the product category and the relevant legislation. Important elements of the Russian national conformity assessment framework include:
- Federal Law No. 184-FZ “On technical regulation” ;
- Government Resolution No. 2425 of December 23, 2021, as amended, establishing the national lists of products subject to mandatory certification or declaration;
- the applicable standards, assessment schemes and procedural requirements.
Government Resolution No. 2425 replaced the former product lists established by Resolution No. 982. The current lists and subsequent amendments must be checked when determining the requirements for a particular product.
Where a product falls within the scope of an applicable EAEU technical regulation, the relevant EAC Certification or EAC Declaration requirements must also be assessed.
Which products require GOST conformity assessment?
The need for national mandatory certification or declaration is determined by the applicable product lists and requirements. Classification should take account of:
- the product’s name and intended use;
- its technical characteristics and composition;
- the relevant product and customs classification codes;
- the scope of applicable EAEU technical regulations;
- the current wording of the national mandatory conformity assessment lists.
A product should not be classified solely by a broad description such as “industrial equipment” or “consumer goods”. Different products within the same general category may follow different conformity assessment procedures.
Required documents
The required documentation depends on the product and assessment scheme. It may include:
- an application for conformity assessment;
- a detailed product description and specifications;
- manufacturer and applicant details;
- a technical passport, where applicable;
- an instruction manual;
- test reports;
- the supply contract and shipping documents for a specific batch;
- existing certificates and technical evidence relevant to the assessment.
Existing CE documentation, ISO certificates or other test evidence may support the assessment, but do not automatically replace the required Russian conformity documents.
Mandatory GOST certification
Mandatory national certification applies where the product is included in the relevant certification list and meets the conditions specified for that category.
The assessment is carried out by an appropriately accredited certification body. Depending on the scheme, the procedure may include documentation review, product testing, production assessment and subsequent surveillance.
Certification may cover serial production, a specific batch or an individual product, subject to the applicable requirements.
Voluntary GOST certification
Voluntary certification is initiated by the applicant to demonstrate conformity with selected standards or other specified requirements within a voluntary certification system.
It may support commercial negotiations, procurement or customer requirements. However, a voluntary certificate does not replace mandatory certification, declaration, registration or other approvals required for the product.
The permitted use of a voluntary conformity mark depends on the rules of the certification system.
National declaration of conformity
A national declaration of conformity, often referred to as a GOST Declaration, applies to products included in the relevant Russian declaration list.
The applicant adopts the declaration on the basis of the evidence required by the applicable procedure. The eligibility of the applicant, testing requirements and registration process must be determined for the specific product and scheme.
A national declaration must be distinguished from an EAC Declaration, which is based on EAEU technical regulations.
GOST Certificate and GOST Declaration: key differences
| Criterion | Mandatory national certificate | National declaration |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | The applicable mandatory certification list and requirements | The applicable mandatory declaration list and requirements |
| Document issued or adopted by | An accredited certification body | The eligible applicant |
| Evidence | Testing and other assessments required by the certification scheme | Supporting evidence and testing required by the declaration procedure |
| Production assessment | Where required by the selected scheme | According to the applicable procedure |
| Surveillance | Where required by the certification scheme | According to the applicable requirements |
| Validity | Determined by the applicable rules and scheme | Determined by the applicable rules and scheme |
| Territorial scope | Russian national conformity assessment system | Russian national conformity assessment system |
GOST certification process
The procedure generally includes the following stages:
- Identification of the product and applicable requirements.
- Selection of the conformity assessment scheme.
- Submission and review of the application and supporting documents.
- Selection of samples and product testing.
- Production assessment, where required.
- Review of the results and a decision on certification.
- Issuance and registration of the certificate following a successful assessment.
- Surveillance, where required by the scheme.
The exact procedure depends on whether the application covers serial production, a batch or an individual product.
GOST and EAC conformity assessment
National Russian conformity assessment and EAEU conformity assessment are different regulatory routes.
Products covered by EAEU technical regulations must meet the applicable requirements of those regulations. Depending on the product, the procedure may involve an EAC Certificate, an EAC Declaration or another form of assessment.
National requirements remain relevant where they apply to the product. A voluntary GOST certificate cannot replace a mandatory EAC document.
The applicable route should be established before arranging testing or shipping the goods.
Product marking
Products must bear the marking required by their applicable conformity assessment procedure. National conformity marks, voluntary certification marks and the EAC mark must be distinguished.
The correct mark, its placement and any accompanying information depend on the relevant rules. A conformity mark may only be used when the applicable conditions have been met.
Read more about GOST marking and EAC marking.
Applicant and authorised representative
The applicant must meet the eligibility requirements of the particular conformity assessment procedure. These requirements may differ between Russian national certification, national declaration and EAC conformity assessment.
Foreign manufacturers may need a locally established applicant or authorised representative. The representative’s location, responsibilities and contractual authority must be checked against the applicable procedure.
Further information is available on our page about authorised representatives for EAC conformity assessment.
Validity of GOST conformity documents
The validity period depends on the type of document, assessment scheme, product and supply arrangements. Mandatory and voluntary certification may follow different rules.
The validity of documents covering serial production must be distinguished from the conditions applicable to a specific batch or individual product. There is no single validity period that should be assumed for every GOST document.
Time and costs
The time and cost of conformity assessment depend on the product’s classification, available documentation, testing requirements and any production assessment or surveillance involved.
We determine the scope of work after reviewing the product information and prepare an individual quotation.
Further information is available on our page about conformity assessment costs. The requirements for national GOST procedures are assessed separately.
Delivery of documents
After completion of the procedure, we will provide the conformity documents in the available format. Electronic copies or registration details will be sent by email. Courier delivery of paper documents can be arranged where applicable.
