The EAC Certificate is the general name for the conformity assessment documents showing that certain products to be placed on the market in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries comply with the relevant Technical Regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (TR EAEU / TR CU).
The EAC system is particularly important for manufacturers and exporters shipping products to the Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Armenian markets.
However, the same document is not issued for every product. Depending on the product's technical characteristics, intended use and the technical regulation it falls under, an EAC Certificate of Conformity, an EAC Declaration of Conformity or other conformity documents may be required.
What Is the EAC Certificate of Conformity?
The EAC Certificate of Conformity is the official conformity document showing that a product meets the requirements set out in the relevant EAEU technical regulation it falls under.
During certification, the product's technical characteristics, the relevant standards and, where considered necessary, laboratory tests and production conditions are assessed.
Depending on the product group and the conformity assessment procedure to be applied, stages such as the following may be carried out:
- Testing of product samples,
- Accredited laboratory tests,
- Review of technical documents,
- Assessment of the production facility,
- Factory audit,
- Assessment by the certification body
The validity period of the EAC Certificate also varies according to the technical regulation and certification scheme applied. Under some schemes, periods such as 1, 3 or 5 years may apply.
Which products is the EAC Certificate used for?
Whether an EAC Certificate or another conformity assessment method is required is determined product by product. The scope of the relevant technical regulation should be checked in particular for machinery, equipment, electrical products, certain automotive products, pressure equipment and various industrial products.
What Is the EAC Declaration of Conformity?
The EAC Declaration of Conformity is the official conformity document declaring that the product meets the requirements of the relevant EAEU technical regulations.
The declaration of conformity is based on the technical regulation the product falls under, the assessment method applied and the supporting documentation.
During the declaration process, depending on the relevant legislation, documents such as the following may be requested:
- Product tests,
- Laboratory reports,
- Technical file,
- Manufacturer's documents,
- Quality management system certificates,
- Information on production conditions
Important: There is no general rule that the EAC Declaration of Conformity is always used for simpler, cheaper or lower-risk products than the EAC Certificate. Which conformity assessment procedure applies is determined by the relevant technical regulation and conformity scheme the product falls under.
What Is the EAC Customs Union Certificate?
On the market, the terms “EAC Customs Union Certificate”, “Customs Union Certificate”, “TR CU Certificate” or “EAC Certificate” are sometimes used interchangeably.
The basic concept here is documenting the product's conformity with the relevant technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union.
In particular, the TR CU designations created under the former Customs Union (CU) technical regulations are still seen today in the names of many technical regulations within the EAEU system.
For this reason, simply saying “an EAC certificate is required” is not enough. The product should first be assessed along the following line:
Product → HS Code → Technical Characteristics → Intended Use → Relevant TR CU / TR EAEU → Conformity Assessment Scheme
What Is the Difference Between GOST-R and EAC?
GOST-R is one of the older conformity and certification systems used in Russia.
With the entry into force of the EAEU technical regulations, the EAC system has come to the fore for many product groups.
However, this does not mean that GOST-R has disappeared completely for all products.
For some products, the following may be required:
- GOST-R,
- GOST-R Declaration,
- voluntary GOST-R certificate,
- technical specification or other national conformity documents
For this reason, the mere fact that a product “is going to Russia” does not automatically mean that EAC or GOST-R is required. The legislation the product falls under must be examined separately.
SGR – What Is the State Registration Certificate?
The SGR (State Registration Certificate / Certificate of State Registration) is a state registration document that may be required under EAEU legislation for certain product groups.
It may come up in particular for certain product groups subject to special requirements in terms of human health.
Depending on the product group, SGR requirements may apply, for example, to:
- Cosmetic products,
- Certain chemical products,
- Certain products intended for children,
- Certain product groups in contact with food,
- Products subject to special regulations in terms of hygiene and consumer health
The SGR requirement should be checked separately for each product.
Fire Safety and Other Special Documents
For some products, special conformity documents or assessments may be required in addition to the EAC conformity document or independently of the EAC system.
For example, products subject to special regulations in terms of fire safety may need to meet the relevant fire safety requirements.
For this reason, before exporting, the better approach is to answer not only the question “Is EAC required?” but the question:
“Which conformity and registration documents does this product need in total on the EAEU market?”
What Is an Exemption / Conformity Letter?
Some products may fall outside the scope of certain technical regulations or may not be subject to mandatory EAC conformity assessment under the relevant legislation.
In such cases, an official letter or documentation on exemption, out-of-scope status or the conformity requirement explaining the product's status may be requested.
However, this is not a standard “EAC exemption certificate” issued automatically for every product.
The nature of the document to be used for customs and market placement should be determined according to the status of the product and the relevant legislation.
In Which Countries Is the EAC Certificate Valid?
The EAC system is applied in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU):
| Country | EAEU |
|---|---|
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Member |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | Member |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Member |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Member |
| 🇦🇲 Armenia | Member |
The EAC conformity document can be used on the EAEU common market, depending on the scope of the relevant technical regulation and the nature of the document.
Countries that are not EAEU members, such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, are not part of the EAC system. Whether the EAC certificate is accepted in these countries should be assessed separately under the import and product legislation of the country concerned.
What Is the EAC Mark?
Once the EAC conformity assessment has been completed and the requirements of the relevant legislation have been met, the EAC conformity mark may be applied to the product.
The EAC mark may appear:
- On the product,
- On its packaging,
- On its label,
- In its user manual
and in other places permitted by the relevant legislation.
How the mark is applied, its size and its conditions of use should be determined according to the relevant technical regulation.
EAC Certificate or EAC Declaration?
The answer to this question depends on the nature of the product.
| Subject | EAC Certificate of Conformity | EAC Declaration of Conformity |
|---|---|---|
| Document type | Certificate | Declaration |
| Issue | Authorised/accredited certification process | Declaration process under the relevant legislation |
| Testing | Where required | Where required |
| Technical file | May be required | May be required |
| Factory assessment | May be required depending on the scheme | May be required depending on the scheme |
| Validity | According to the relevant legislation | According to the relevant legislation |
| Use | Products under the relevant TR CU/TR EAEU | Products under the relevant TR CU/TR EAEU |
So, before asking “which one is better?”, the question “which one does the legislation require for the product?” must be answered.
How Does the EAC Certification Process Work?
At Istanbul Certificate Office, we generally proceed through the following stages in EAC processes:
1. Product Analysis
The product's technical characteristics, intended use and product group are examined.
2. Identification of Legislation and Technical Regulations
The relevant TR CU / TR EAEU technical regulations the product falls under are identified.
3. Determining the Conformity Assessment Method
It is determined whether the product requires an EAC Certificate, an EAC Declaration of Conformity or another conformity assessment procedure.
4. Preparation of Documents
Technical documents, product information, test reports and other required documents are prepared.
5. Testing and Audit
Where the legislation requires, product tests and/or production facility assessments are carried out.
6. Certification / Declaration
Once the conformity assessment process has been completed, the relevant certificate or declaration is created.
7. EAC Marking
Where the legislation requires, the EAC marking on the product and packaging is completed.
8. Export and Placing on the Market
Once certification has been completed, the import and market placement processes for the product on the EAEU market are carried out within the framework of the relevant legislation.
EAC Certification with Istanbul Certificate Office
Istanbul Certificate Office has been active in certification processes for the Russian and Eurasian markets since 2005.
We provide manufacturers and exporters with consultancy and certification services on:
EAC Certificate, EAC Declaration of Conformity, GOST-R, SGR and other conformity assessment processes
Rather than simply obtaining a document for your product, we aim first to determine which document is really required and to plan the process accordingly.
To obtain an EAC certificate or find out whether your product falls under EAC
Share your product information, technical characteristics and, if possible, your HS code with us.
At Istanbul Certificate Office, we can carry out a preliminary assessment of your product under EAEU legislation and provide information and a quotation on the conformity assessment process required.
Istanbul Certificate Office
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