Certification 2026: businesses are waiting for increased control, new requirements and digital verification of goods
The Russian certification market is entering 2026 with large-scale changes that will affect manufacturers, importers, distributors and all participants in foreign economic activity. New requirements, digitalization of processes, expansion of mandatory labeling and stricter supervision will be key factors in updating the regulatory environment.
Ekaterina Kurbatova, Head of the RTU Certification Center, noted: "2026 is the time for updating regulatory requirements: strengthening control, expanding labeling, and introducing digital verification mechanisms. It is important for businesses to adapt documentation in advance, update IT, check suppliers and take into account new rules in logistics and production."
Experts highlight the growth of requests for international certificates, supplier verification and import certification among the main trends. At the same time, control over the work of certification bodies and testing laboratories is being strengthened, which should reduce the risks of bringing dangerous or untested products to the market. Special attention is paid to environmental standards: companies will be required to take into account the requirements for packaging recycling and the environmental friendliness of the materials used.
A number of significant regulatory innovations will come into force in 2026. Among them are the launch of the requirements of the EAEU TR 047/2018 for alcoholic beverages from July 1, the updating of packaging standards under EAEU TR 005/2011 and the extension of the simplified conformity assessment procedure until September 1, 2026 for parallel imports. After this date, companies will have to complete a full compliance verification scheme within six months.
Licensing of retail trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products, which will become effective on March 1, 2026, will be a major change. The draft laws provide for increased liability, including criminal liability. In addition, the list of products subject to mandatory certification is expanding, including plastic fittings, household fittings, alternative fuels, and updated items for electronic and chemical products.
One of the key elements of the control will be the possibility of suspending or revoking foreign certificates if violations are detected. The mechanism for blocking fake declarations and protocols will be strengthened by Resolutions No. 1669 and No. 936.
From September 1, 2026, marketplaces and sellers will be required to provide a link to an entry in the register of declarations or certificates. This innovation is aimed at increasing the transparency of online commerce and eliminating inaccurate documentation.
Major changes will also affect the labeling of goods with the Honest Mark system. The list of groups to be labeled is expanding — from sweets and beverages to building materials, cosmetics, household chemicals and toys. Experiments on labeling radio electronics, medical devices, fertilizers, and cable products are continuing. In the future, this will become the basis for future mandatory requirements.
For the participants of foreign economic activity, 2026 will be a period of adaptation to the new import control architecture. The national system for confirming the expectation of delivery provides for pre-submission of data, security payments and measures to combat false transit. This will require upgrading the software, training employees, and updating internal control procedures.
Participants in foreign trade should also take into account increased tax controls, including VAT and new fines for violations. Digitalization of processes will become mandatory — preliminary data entry, electronic protocols and automated checks will be increasingly integrated into logistics chains.
Summing up the forecasts, experts agree: 2026 will be the year of technologization, greening and tightening of product safety requirements. The role of inspection control, responsibility of sellers and marketplaces will increase, and digital tools will become key in ensuring market transparency.
