Russia enforces mandatory certification labels for medicines, cigarettes and shoes

Russia has implemented digital labels for medicines, tobacco products (without cigarettes and Russian-style cigarettes) and shoes since July 1.

Interfax news agency made it clear that now cigarettes and footwear products cannot be sold on Russian shelves if they are not labeled. Unlabeled medicines manufactured before July 2020 are allowed to circulate to the expiry date.

In the footwear market, the registration of companies in the mandatory certification label system began on July 1, 2019. Enterprises must submit the relevant information of the labeled products to the mandatory certification label system before August 1, 2020. Such footwear products can be legally circulated after August 1.

According to the Russian Prospect Technology Development Center (electronic label system operator), more than 66,000 medicines have been registered in the mandatory certification label system, and tobacco products have exceeded 81,000 and more than 55,000 shoes.

Previously, the Russian government approved a list of products with a series of mandatory certification labels.