Grey certificates from Kyrgyzstan: market cleanup has begun

The certification authorities in the Eurasian Uion have begun cleaning up the EAC certification market by annulling EAC certificates that were issued in violation of regulations. This concerns documents issued by certification bodies that systematically ignored the legal requirements of the technical regulations and issued certificates without conducting real testing. In previous articles we have already reported that in Kazakhstan and Russia there has been discussion about limiting the validity of EAC certificates from Kyrgyzstan for placing products on the market. The background of the issue and our response are explained in the article "Kazakhstan announces restrictions on EAC certificates from Kyrgyzstan – what companies need to know now". On February 16, Rosakkreditatsiya suspended the validity of all documents from three Kyrgyz certification bodies – “Muras,” “Center for Certification and Testing,” and “Expert-Line” – for one year. The reason was the absence of actual testing and the detection of prohibited substances in products (formaldehyde, phenol). In practice, this revealed a massive problem in the market. Reportedly thousands of certificates and declarations of conformity could be at risk. Many agencies offering certification services for foreign manufacturers had arranged their work through unreliable bodies in Kyrgyzstan. This approach allowes to:

• offer significantly lower prices;
• issue documents in a short time;
• carry out certifications without submitting samples for testing;
• bypass production audits and actual product inspections.

In fact, it was the sale of documents rather than the verification of product safety. We explicitly distance ourselves from such practices and do not use them. The current situation clearly shows: the “fast, cheap, and without samples” model does not work. Cutting corners on testing and choosing questionable certification partners leads to direct financial and legal risks for companies. Under stricter oversight, the market is effectively divided into those who operate within the legal framework and those who base their business on gray schemes. The consequences for the latter are becoming increasingly tangible. Such practices not only violate the requirements of the EAEU technical regulations but also create direct risks for importers. In the event of certificate annulment, goods may be blocked at the border, removed from circulation, and the applicant held accountable. It should be noted that the applicant bears responsibility for the accuracy and legality of the issued documents.

What should be considered when obtaining an EAC Certificate?

When receiving an EAC Certificate or EAC Declaration, it is important to verify not only the formal issuance of the document, but also the legal and technical validity of the certification. Errors or irregularities may lead to customs clearance problems, suspension of certificates, or even import bans.

Important points to check:

• Verify the status of the certification body:The certification body must be accredited and officially recognized at the time of issuance. It is also important to ensure that no suspensions have been imposed on the body within the last 12 months.
• Test reports must be available:An EAC certificate should always refer to specific test reports. The test report forms the basis for issuing the certificate and confirms that product testing was carried out by an accredited testing laboratory. Applicants should request and archive the full test reports at an early stage, as these documents may be requested at any time during import procedures.
• Proof of legal import of test samples:Test samples must be officially imported into the EAEU. A customs declaration (GTD) is required for this purpose. If such proof is missing, authorities may assume that the tests were never actually conducted.
• Check the accreditation scope of the testing laboratory: The laboratory may only perform tests that fall within its official accreditation scope. If the performed tests do not match the accreditation scope, the certificate may be suspended or annulled.

Companies should carefully archive all certification documents — especially test reports, customs documents for imported samples, and technical documentation. Thorough verification of both the certification body and the testing laboratory significantly reduces the risk of problems during import, market surveillance, or customs inspections.

How we can support you

Schmidt & Schmidt offers comprehensive support:

• Review of existing certificates for potential risks
• Consulting on the selection of reliable certification bodies
• Complete new-certification of your products in Kazakhstan
• Assistance with customs procedures and market surveillance issues

Contact us — we will advise you individually and help secure your supply chain.

How can we help?

In this rapidly changing regulatory environment, Schmidt & Schmidt offers comprehensive support for exporters to the EAEU countries. Our service portfolio includes EAC certification, customization to specific product categories and tailored solutions to comply with the technical and legal requirements of these markets. We are committed to making it easier for companies to enter and expand in these regions by providing the most up-to-date information and guidelines.

Technical expertise, care and accuracy in the preparation of documents are the prerequisite for problem-free distribution and use of products, machines or systems in the EAEU territory. The technical documentation must also be written in Russian or in the official language of the respective member country in which the product is to be sold or used. In order to avoid any problems, we will be happy to help you create new technical documents or check existing documents for completeness and linguistic and terminological correctness in Russian.

Thanks to their many years of experience, our experts can also provide you with specific industry knowledge from plant engineering, mechanical engineering, metal construction, measurement technology, electrical engineering, automation technology, medical technology, food technology and the furniture industry.