For many products that are to be exported to Russia and other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan), conformity with the requirements of technical regulations and standards must be confirmed before the product is placed on the market. Depending on the product, conformity assessment may take the form of certification, declaration or state hygienic registration.
Many manufacturers are unsure which conformity assessment activity applies to their product under the Technical Regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union: EAC Certification or EAC Declaration. Below we answer the most common questions and explain the key differences.
What is an EAC Certificate?
An EAC Certificate is an official confirmation that products comply with harmonized EAEU technical requirements. It can only be issued by an independent certification body accredited in an EAEU member state after the required assessment.
- Assessment is based on technical documentation and test evidence (corporate test reports and/or test reports from accredited laboratories).
- If required by the regulation and the selected scheme, an on-site manufacturing audit may be carried out.
- The certificate is issued on an official form with a unique series/number and is counterfeit-proof.
Can products be certified voluntarily?
Yes. Even if neither a certificate nor a declaration is mandatory for a product, voluntary certification is possible at the initiative of the manufacturer or importer. In this case, the applicant chooses the standards for certification, and the procedure is conducted under national rules (e.g., STB for Belarus, GOST R for Russia, ST RK for Kazakhstan).
Read more about Voluntary certification.
What is an EAC Declaration?
An EAC Declaration is a statement by the manufacturer, importer or authorized representative confirming conformity with the minimum requirements of EAEU technical regulations. Unlike the EAC Certificate, the declaration is issued by the applicant (manufacturer/importer/authorized representative).
- The applicant is responsible for collecting the evidence of conformity (tests, analyses, documentation).
- The declaration must be recorded in the unified EAEU register via an accredited certification body in an EAEU member state.
Which procedure applies to my product: certificate or declaration?
In most cases, the applicable Technical Regulation clearly specifies whether a product is subject to certification or declaration. In certain cases, a mandatory EAC Declaration can be replaced with EAC Certification (depending on the regulation and scheme), for example under TR CU 010/2011 On safety of machinery and equipment or TR CU 004/2011 On safety of low-voltage equipment.
Although a declaration has the same legal validity as a certificate, an EAC Certificate is often perceived as more convincing by counterparties because an independent certification body performs the assessment.
How does the conformity assessment procedure work in practice?
How do you obtain an EAC Declaration?
- Which technical regulations and standards must your product comply with?
- Which declaration scheme applies to your product and supply model?
- How are tests and analyses performed and documented correctly?
- Which required documents must be prepared (as specified in the applicable Technical Regulation)?
- How is the declaration issued (by the applicant)?
- How are the declaration and supporting documents submitted to an accredited certification body within the EAEU?
- How is the declaration entered into the unified EAEU register?
How do you obtain an EAC Certificate?
- How do you apply to an accredited certification body within the EAEU?
- How does the certification body review your documentation?
- How are product identification and sample selection performed?
- How are tests and analyses arranged (typically via EAEU-accredited laboratories)?
- When is a manufacturing audit required?
- When and how is the certificate issued?
- Is surveillance/monitoring required for certified products under the chosen scheme?
Who is allowed to apply for an EAC Certificate or EAC Declaration?
In practice, certification and declaration are usually applied for by an importer located in the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, an authorized representative within the EAEU is often required.
Do the documents have to be translated?
Yes. All documents must be translated into Russian or into the official language of the respective EAEU member state, depending on the filing requirements. A professional technical translation helps avoid delays and questions during review.
How long are the EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration valid?
Both the EAC Certificate and the EAC Declaration have legal effect across the EAEU/customs union member states and can be valid for up to 5 years, depending on the applicable Technical Regulation and selected scheme.
Which documents are required for an EAC Certificate or EAC Declaration?
Typically, the following documents are required:
- detailed product description
- product name
- customs tariff number
- technical passport
- safety justification
- instruction manual
- technical drawings
- technical datasheet
- test reports
- already existing certifications: ISO, DIN, CE, CB
Depending on the product category and the applicable regulation, additional documents and evidence may be required.
What are the key differences between an EAC Certificate and an EAC Declaration?
| Criteria | Certificate | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant | manufacturer, importer, authorized representative | manufacturer, importer, authorized representative |
| Product identification | certification body | applicant |
| Tests and analyses | testing laboratories accredited in the EAEU | own testing laboratories or testing laboratories accredited in the EAEU |
| Issuer | certification body | applicant |
| Registration | certification body | certification body or applicant |
| Period of validity | 1 to 5 years depending on the regulation | 1 to 5 years depending on the regulation |
| Surveillance | certification body | - |
How are the EAC Certificate and EAC Declaration issued (format and paperwork)?
How is the EAC Declaration issued?
The EAC Declaration is issued by the manufacturer, importer or authorized representative on DIN A4 paper. It must be signed and stamped by the company, and the EAC conformity mark is applied.
How is the EAC Certificate issued?
The EAC Certificate is issued by the certification body on an official form with a unique series and number. The form is designed to be counterfeit-proof.
