On December 1, new requirements for mandatory labeling of a number of consumer goods came into force in Russia. The changes affected the segments of children's toys, shaving products, as well as cocoa and hot chocolate. The initiative is aimed at reducing shadow turnover and strengthening quality control, as these categories traditionally belong to groups with a high proportion of counterfeiting and illegal importation.
Manufacturers and importers are now required to affix digital labeling codes to a range of toys for children under 14, including scooters, doll products, board games, and electric racing kits. According to the operator of Honest Sign, by the beginning of the launch of the mandatory stage, more than 24 thousand companies had been registered in the system — almost twice the number of market participants that had previously been registered by government agencies. This indicates a noticeable "whitewashing" of the segment already at the preparatory stage.
Labeling has also been introduced for products of the shaving group, where, according to experts, the share of illegal products exceeds 20%. Manufacturers began to produce labeled batches in advance and supplied more than 1.5 million items to the market, including replaceable cartridges, disposable and reusable shaving machines.
Cocoa products also fall under the new requirements: a digital code is required for cocoa-based and hot chocolate-based beverages. According to market participants, this step is especially important in the field of food products, where the quality and origin of the product directly affects consumer safety.
Also, since December, the second stage of labeling of building materials has started — sealants, foams and dry mixes have been added to the list. Thus, the government is consistently expanding the digital control system, covering the segments most vulnerable to illegal trafficking.
Experts note that mandatory labeling creates additional costs for manufacturers and importers, but at the same time creates a more civilized competitive environment. For a bona fide business, this opens up the opportunity to increase the transparency of supply chains and protect the market from substandard goods.
