The EU is supplying the Russian Federation (RF) products subject to requirements in the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) sphere. Trade takes place according to rules ensuring the safety of exported products. Russia is the second export market for the EU agricultural products and the first one in value for export of animals and animal products such as meat and dairy products, as well as fruits and vegetables. The EU is an important export market for Russia agri-food products including cereals and fisheries.
Exporters to the RF will find here the relevant import requirements. These import requirements are set by 2 agencies in the Russian Federation - Rosselkhoznadzor and Rospotrebnadzor - depending on the aspects (public health, animal health, plant health).
Since 2010 Russia has engaged in harmonising its SPS norms with Kazakhstan and Belarus, in the framework of a Customs Union (CU). The harmonised rules set at the CU level prevail over the national norms. The CU texts also set mechanisms for the application in the Russian Federation of SPS international standards. These mechanisms enter into force from the date of the accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organisation (22 August 2012).
The Commission has engaged in negotiations of bilateral SPS conditions for certain products, which co-exist with requirements applied pursuant to the national and the CU legal framework. These conditions involve also the Member States competent authorities in charge of the controls over the production of the concerned products. An administrative framework was set up between the Commission, Member States and the Russian authorities through specific agreements called Memorandums of Understanding, which are presented in this webpage. At the request of Member States Competent Authorities and of stakeholders engaged in export controls and export activities, the Commission also provides through this webpage tools to accede the detailed SPS requirements applicable for export to the Russian market. Regular updates are made to this information, as far as the Commission is informed. Some insights are also given on the SPS regulations applicable in other members of the CU, such as Kazakhstan. Please take note that non-official documents are provided here for information. The Commission does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the documents.
