In January 2026, a new round of regulatory new policies by the Russian Federal Customs Service was officially implemented. Combined with the tax adjustments and new certification rules that took effect in the same period, it built a three-in-one trade control system covering supervision, taxation, and traceability. A closed-loop digital verification system has been formed, the VAT rate has been increased, EAC certification requirements have been tightened, and the e-commerce traceability mechanism has been strengthened. These four changes have completely restructured customs clearance rules. Violation penalties have doubled, the expected elimination rate of gray customs clearance channels is 60%, and a number of enterprises relying on opportunistic operations have already encountered cargo detention, fines, and even market access bans. As a professional agent with 20 years of in-depth experience in Russian customs clearance, Shanghai SBTG deeply interprets the core points of the new rules, sorts out a full-process risk avoidance guide, and helps enterprises adapt to the new rules to achieve smooth customs clearance.
I. Core Changes of the New Rules: Four Dimensions Reshape Customs Clearance Logic
Closed-Loop Digital Verification: Launched a dual mechanism of exporter declaration and buyer confirmation. Goods entry requires completing information cross-verification. Starting from April, the testing of the SPOT commodity arrival confirmation system was launched, and buyers need to verify and confirm cargo information item by item online. Information mismatch will directly trigger 100% unpacking inspection, and the previous tax avoidance operations relying on information asymmetry have completely become ineffective.
Adjustment of Tax Costs: The VAT rate has been increased from 20% to 22%, and the full amount must be prepaid during customs clearance; the maximum increase in customs miscellaneous fees has reached 2.4 times, and fixed miscellaneous fees for specific categories have increased significantly. The VAT exemption threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises has been gradually lowered, and the tax avoidance space by splitting orders has been completely compressed.
Strengthened Certification Supervision: Sending samples for EAC certification requires obtaining a test sample confirmation letter in advance, and logistics documents must be mandatory marked with the GTD customs declaration number and CUTR certificate number. Electronic products need to supplement RoHS 3.0 directive testing, and food products need to provide carbon footprint labels. Certification non-compliance will directly lead to certificate invalidation.
E-Commerce Compliance Upgrade: Clearly define platforms such as Ozon and Wildberries as the primary responsible parties for compliance, which need to build digital product files to realize full-link traceability from production, import to sales. Commodities without compliant documents will be forced to be removed from shelves, and the risk of sellers losing all channels has increased.
II. Full-Process Risk Avoidance Guide: Accurately Avoid Five High-Risk Points
Control of Document Consistency: The HS codes on Chinese and Russian customs declarations, invoices, and packing lists must be completely unified, and the deviation between the declared value and the customs audit value must be controlled within ±8%. Use the new CCPIT anti-counterfeiting certificate for the certificate of origin, marked with special Russian customs logos, to avoid detention due to information mismatch.
EAC Certification Standardization: Technical documents must be provided in Russian and stamped by an EAEU-registered translation agency; machine translation will directly lead to application rejection. Samples must be complete commercial products, fully consistent with mass-produced products. Sending samples without prior permission will be rejected by the laboratory.
Compliance of Labels and Marks: Affix the EAC mark of at least 5mm and dynamic QR code, ensuring the link to the EAEU testing database. Food and cosmetics need to mark allergens and storage conditions, and e-commerce products need to attach mandatory Russian electronic labels simultaneously. Labeling flaws will trigger cargo return.
Sample Sending Specifications: Strictly follow the sending process of confirming the certificate draft, applying for FSA registration, obtaining permission letters, and marking compliant information. The sample customs clearance document must use code 064, clearly indicating that the test samples have no commercial value. Violations will lead to cargo detention and certification invalidation.
Capital Flow Matching: The deviation between the amount of settlement vouchers and the customs declaration must be controlled within 3% to avoid triggering early warnings from the real-time monitoring system of customs and the central bank, and prevent being identified as an illegal transaction.
III. SBTG Compliance Solution: Professional Support to Adapt to New Rules
Qualification and Policy Support: SBTG has completed registration with the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, passed China-Russia AEO Advanced Certification, and all cooperating certification institutions are officially recognized by the EAEU. Established a special policy team to track new rules dynamically, sorted out category adaptation plans 3 months in advance, and ensured enterprises grasp policy changes simultaneously.
Full-Process Review Mechanism: Implements a three-document review system to check key information such as HS codes, Russian translations, and certification numbers page by page. Built a digital declaration system that seamlessly connects with the Russian customs system, realizing linked verification of customs declarations, bills of lading, and certification documents, avoiding manual entry errors.
Localized Emergency Guarantee: Set up a directly affiliated customs clearance team in Moscow with professional Russian language proficiency and practical experience. Arrive at the scene within 1 hour to supplement materials in case of inspection, cooperate with the Russian digital inspection process. Introduced exclusive insurance plans covering core risks such as detention and fines, and initiated claim reviews within 24 hours.
Cost and Channel Optimization: Recalculate the cost structure for enterprises according to the new tax standards, reserving working capital to cope with prepayment pressure. Prioritize recommending eastern ports such as Suifenhe and Hunchun, shortening the cycle through advance declaration and intelligent inspection; provide overseas warehouse layout suggestions for high-frequency export enterprises to avoid cross-border customs clearance risks.
Compliance with Russian customs clearance in 2026 is no longer a choice but a survival issue. Although the new rules have raised the access threshold, they have also cleared gray competition obstacles for compliant enterprises. SBTG has deeply integrated 20 years of practical experience with the new rules, providing enterprises with full-link compliance solutions through professional qualification support, rigorous review mechanisms, and sound emergency guarantees. Choosing SBTG means choosing a stable customs clearance plan adapting to the new rules, helping enterprises gain a firm foothold in China-Russia trade and seize long-term opportunities.
