The Customs Union (CU) is an association of countries aimed at simplifying trade procedures, eliminating barriers and ensuring uniform standards in the market of participants. The most important instrument for regulating the quality and safety of products are the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (TR CU).
They establish uniform requirements for goods produced and imported into the territory of member states. They cover various categories of goods: from food to industrial equipment, ensuring their compliance with established safety standards.
The relevance of this topic is due to the need to harmonize standards within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), integration into the international trading system.
General Provisions and Objectives of Technical Regulations
Technical Regulations – This is a normative act containing mandatory requirements for products, processes of their production, operation, disposal. They replaced the national technical standards of the participating countries, forming a single legal framework for quality control of goods.
The main goals of the CU TR:
- Safety guarantee - protection of the health of consumers, workers and the environment.
- Ensuring unity - eliminating contradictions between national technical requirements.
- Promoting free trade - eliminating obstacles to the movement of goods within the CU.
- Protection from unfair competition - preventing the import and production of low-quality products.
- Harmonization with international standards - bringing requirements into line with international standards (ISO, GOST).
The legislative framework includes international agreements, regulations of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which coordinates the process of their development.
Key principles of the CU TR
The technical regulations of the Customs Union are based on three key principles:
- The principle of uniform standards:
- All member countries of the CU apply the same requirements.
- Certification in one country automatically gives it the right of free circulation throughout the CU.
- The principle of compliance with international standards:
- The development takes into account the standards of ISO, GOST, CEN (European standards).
- This allows to increase the competitiveness of products in international markets.
- The principle of trust in certification:
- Products receive a single conformity mark “EAC”.
- Accredited certification centers monitor the compliance of goods with the requirements of regulations.
These principles ensure transparency of certification, consumer protection and uniform conditions of competition.
Procedure for the Development and Adoption of TR
Development of Technical regulations takes place in several stages.
Initiation of the project
Proposals can be made by government agencies, associations of manufacturers, scientific organizations.
Development, coordination
- A project is created, which is discussed with experts, industrial enterprises and regulatory authorities of the CU countries.
- The project undergoes legal examination, is finalized taking into account the comments.
Approval, publication
- After approval, it is adopted by the Eurasian Economic Commission.
- A transition period is established so that companies can adapt to the new requirements.
This process allows taking into account the interests of all market participants, ensuring compliance with modern quality and safety standards.
Types of Technical Regulations of the Customs Union
They can be divided into mandatory and recommendatory regulations.
Mandatory TR
They define the necessary requirements for products, non-compliance with which entails a ban on the sale of products in the Customs Union.
Examples:
- TR CU 021/2011 – “On the safety of food products”.
- TR CU 004/2011 – “On the safety of low-voltage equipment”.
- TR CU 007/2011 – “On the safety of goods for children”.
Recommended TR
Contain additional requirements for the quality of goods, voluntary standards. Their observance is not mandatory, but increases the competitiveness of business.
Certification process, inspection
Main types of certification:
- Mandatory certification – applies to products that affect consumer safety (food products, medical products, electrical equipment).
- Voluntary certification - confirms additional characteristics of the product, increasing its attractiveness in the market.
Certification bodies check compliance with the TR Customs Union and issue certificates of conformity. After successfully completing the procedure, the product is marked with the “EAC” conformity mark, confirming its compliance with the requirements of the Customs Union.
Implementation Issues and Challenges
Despite significant advantages, implementation faces a number of problems:
- Differences in approaches to certification.
- The countries of the Customs Union have national features of certification procedures, which complicates full unification.
- Transition from national standards to unified ones.
- Companies are forced to adapt production, which takes time, financial costs.
- Control over compliance with requirements.
- Insufficient supervision leads to products of dubious quality entering the market.
Solving these problems requires improving the control system, strengthening supervision and increasing the responsibility of manufacturers.
Prospects for the development of Technical Regulations of the Customs Union
For further development, it is necessary:
- Deep integration of documentation between the CU countries.
- Simplification of certification to reduce time and costs.
- Digitalization of the control system to increase transparency.
- Harmonization with international regulations to facilitate exports outside the union.
These measures will help create a single, effective space for safety and quality in the countries of the Customs Union.
Technical regulations play a key role in the safety and quality of products and consumer protection. They create uniform rules for business, eliminate barriers to trade and promote economic integration.
Improving the system is a step towards creating a competitive, safe and transparent market in the EAEU countries. Compliance with standards and product certification help protect the interests of producers, consumers and trading partners.
