The Russian government has decided to extend the simplified procedure for the import of certain types of electronic devices until December 31, 2026. The measure applies to a wide range of equipment, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, personal computers, microchips, radio stations and other devices containing cryptographic or encryption functions.
The corresponding resolution was published by the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers. The main purpose of the extension is to prevent a shortage of electronic products on the domestic market in the face of ongoing sanctions pressure and limited access to foreign supply chains.
The key element of the simplified regime remains the special procedure for issuing notifications, which are required for the import of equipment with encryption functions. In the standard procedure, such notifications are submitted by the manufacturer directly to the Center for Licensing, Certification and Protection of State Secrets of the FSB of Russia. However, within the framework of the current temporary mechanism, the registration of permits is allowed through industry associations.
We are talking, in particular, about the Association of Electronics Developers and the Association of Computer and Information Technology Enterprises, which have received the right to centrally issue notifications on behalf of market participants. This significantly reduces the administrative burden on importers and speeds up customs procedures.
A separate block of exemptions concerns components used in industrial production in Russia. For such products, the simplified procedure exempts importers from the obligation to provide information about notifications to customs authorities. This solution is critically important for enterprises involved in the assembly, repair and modernization of electronic equipment, as well as for manufacturers of industrial equipment.
The simplified regime was first introduced in 2022 as an anti-crisis measure and has been extended annually since then. During this period, it has become one of the key tools for adapting the electronics market to the new conditions of foreign trade. According to the estimates of the participants of the foreign economic activity, the rejection of this mechanism would lead to an increase in delivery times, increased costs and risks of disruptions in the provision of retail and corporate segments.
The extension of the regime until the end of 2026 gives the market additional predictability. Importers and distributors are given the opportunity to plan supplies in the long term, and manufacturing companies have more stable supply chains. In the context of ongoing geopolitical instability, this solution reduces systemic risks for the digital economy and related industries.
