From September 1, the labeling of 6 new product groups and two experiments will start

From September 1, 2023, digital labeling of six new product categories will be gradually introduced in Russia: biologically active food additives, antiseptics, certain types of honey. products, wheelchairs, soft drinks and children’s drinking water.

Water for baby food is subject to mandatory labeling directly from September 1, for participants in the turnover of the other five groups from this date, registration requirements are introduced in the state information system for labeling goods. From October 1, labeling codes will need to be applied to dietary supplements, antiseptics, certain types of honey. products and wheelchairs, and soft drinks – in stages from December 1.

“Adaptation to new requirements was positively influenced by the experience that market participants received during voluntary experiments, as well as developments in other product groups. Expanding the labeling system is an important strategic task aimed at whitewashing the Russian market, protecting consumers and developing our economy,
” said Ekaterina Priezzheva, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

The Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT, operator of the state information system for labeling goods) added that daily work with market participants on the implementation of business processes of labeling continues.

“The labeling system was fully ready for a large-scale expansion into six categories of goods. It is important that labeling is introduced in stages for the five new product groups in order to minimize the burden on the business. There is enough equipment for timely equipping of all market participants, there is no shortage, all manufacturers of baby water are already fully ready for labeling, in other product groups the degree of readiness is also assessed as high,
” commented Revaz Yusupov, Deputy General Director of the CRPT.

He also noted that the impact of labeling on prices will be minimal – this follows from the experience of introducing labeling in other 11 product groups.

Biologically active food additives

The start of registration in the labeling system is from September 1, from October 1, manufacturers and importers of dietary supplements will be required to apply labeling codes to products.

Antiseptics

The start of registration is from September 1, from October 1, manufacturers and importers of antiseptics will be required to apply labeling codes to products.

Labeling in this category is introduced at the initiative of the business community and is designed to reduce the illegal turnover of antiseptic products that arose during the pandemic.

Medical devices and wheelchairs

The start of registration in the labeling system began on September 1, the very introduction of labeling honey. The process will take place in stages. From October 1, 2023, labeling of wheelchairs, orthopedic products and recirculators becomes mandatory, and from March 1, 2024 – other medical devices. products specified in the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation: hearing aids, coronary stents, computed tomographs and sanitary products.

Labeling of medical devices and wheelchairs will help to control the distribution of this group of socially significant goods at the expense of budgetary funds to hospitals and for privileged categories of citizens.

Compliance of the specified products with the quality and safety requirements for consumers is of particular importance.

Soft drinks

On September 1, the registration of manufacturers and importers in the state information system for labeling goods begins. For the convenience of the industry, the beginning of mandatory labeling in this product group is divided into stages: from December 1, 2023, labeling codes are applied to soft drinks (except juices, nectars, vegetable milk, compotes) in glass and polymer packaging; from March 1, 2024 – to beverages (except juices, nectars, vegetable milk, compotes) in a bank, including aluminum; from June 1, 2024 – for juices, nectars, vegetable milk, compotes in all types of packaging, as well as other soft drinks that were not included in the previously launched stages.

According to the calculations of experts of the NIFI of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the impact of labeling on the cost of one unit of soft drinks will not exceed 15 kopecks, excluding the cost of the labeling code. The increase in the final cost of products as a result of the introduction of labeling will not exceed 1% in 6 years.

Water for baby food

Since September 1, manufacturers and importers are required to apply labeling codes to products. 45 manufacturers and 3 importers of baby food water have been registered in the state information system for labeling goods. The decision on mandatory labeling is part of the process of introducing labeling of all packaged water, which began on December 1, 2021 with mineral water and covered the segment of the rest of packaged drinking water from March 1, 2022.

With the introduction of requirements for baby water, the labeling system will cover the entire segment of packaged water turnover. The absence of mandatory labeling of baby water allowed unscrupulous manufacturers to position their products as drinking water for baby food, indicating the relevant information in the permits, and to avoid controlling the volume of production and traceability of the turnover of their products.

“Normative novels”

On September 1, Russia also begins an experiment on labeling titanium metal products, which will last until March 31, 2024. The list of products includes ingots, slabs, plates, sheets, rods, billets and rectangular forgings made of titanium alloys.

A voluntary experiment on using the capabilities of the state information system for labeling goods and an information system in the field of accreditation will also start on September 1. It will last until July 31, 2024. As part of the experiment, permits will be linked to a specific labeled product. This will allow timely detection on the market of batches of goods with invalid documents, as well as the volume of which is greater than stated in the permit document. The experiment will concern shoes, perfumes, tires and packaged water.