 
 RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.2 
7 June 2002 
 (02-3166) 
Working Party on the Accession  
of the Russian Federation Original:   English 
 
 
  
ACCESSION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 
 
Checklists of Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary
 
Issues in the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO  
 
Revision  
  
 The Permanent Mission of the Russian Fede ration has submitted the following revised 
checklists of TBT and SPS issues relating to the accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO, with the request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.  
_______________ 
   
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Page 2 Checklist of TBT Issues in the Accession of  the Russian Federation to the WTO  
 
WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
1. Generally agreed 
principle in WTO accession negotiations 1. Standstill: the introduction of 
new standards, technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures should 
(shall) be fully compatible with the TBT Agreement The Russian party does not intend to complicate acce ss to its markets by introducing a less favourable 
treatment for the purposes of the TBT Agreement. The basic parameters were defined in Russia’s draft commitments in respect of access to goods and serv ices markets. Measures for market protection will 
be undertaken in full compliance with Russia’s international obligations, the Russian legislation in 
force, and the requirements of draft laws currently under development. Legal and regulatory framework for the implementation of the above was provided under the “Interministerial Programme 
of Measures to Ensure Compliance with the WT O TBT Agreement and the WTO SPS Agreement for 
1999 – 2001” and would be completed in the course of implementation of a similar further programme for 2002 – 2005 to be approved in the II quarter of 2002.  
2. Article 15.2 and TBT 
Committee Decision 
(G/TBT/1) 2. Submission of Statement on 
Implementation Pursuant to the TBT Agreement this commitment will be fully implemented upon accession of the 
Russian Federation to the WTO (see also Section 3 herein). 
3. Article 10 3. Establishment and operation of 
a single Contact Point for Information ("enquiry point") A functioning Russian Single Co ntact Point for TBT/SPS (“TBT/SPS Enquiry Point”) was set up by 
Gosstandart of Russia on the basis of All-Russia Re search Institute for Classification, Terminology and 
Information in Standardisation and Quality (VNIIK I) in 1999. The function of the TBT/SPS Enquiry 
Point is to provide, in conjunction with specialised information centres of different ministries and 
agencies, the necessary TBT and SPS related informa tion to all interested parties, including foreign 
participants of international trade. 
Address: Russian Single Contact Point for TB T/SPS Information (TBT/SPS Enquiry Point), 4 
Granatny per., Moscow 103001 Russian Federation. 
tel./fax 230 25 98 
E-mail: 
ENPOINT@VNIIKI.RU  
Gosstandart of Russia also has a functioning web site (www.GOSTR.RU) which can be used to access 
information stored on the Macronet interministerial network (in TBT and SPS section), including the 
annual standardisation plans.  
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 Page 3WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
4. Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 
15.2, Annex 3 and 
G/TBT/1 4. Identification of authority 
responsible for notifications, 
publications and other internal procedures to ensure 
transparency obligations are met 
on an ongoing basis: It is proposed to appoint Gosstandart to act as such authority.
 
A final appointment will be made upon enactment of the Federal Law “Framework Provisions on 
Technical Regulation, Standardization and Confirmation of Conformity” (submitted to the Government 
of the Russian Federation on 29 March 2002, currently being prepared for presentation for 
consideration of the State Duma).  
The Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point se t up by Gosstandard of Russia is the agency responsible for 
submitting notifications to the WTO, distribution of information and providing access to  TBT 
documentation (in compliance with the transp arency commitments), and it will start ( be) performing 
such functions in full immediately after the  (upon) accession. 
 
 (a) Articles 2.9.1, 
3.1, 5.6.1, 7.1, 
10.1.5  (a) identification of 
publication where notices 
of proposed technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures will 
appear; The Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point specified in Section 3 above, which started publishing a 
specialised «Vestnik»(Bulletin) in 2000, is currently ready to assume this function. The procedures for 
preparing and submitting notices are defined in GOST R 1.13-2001 (enacted on 1 January 2002). 
 (b) Article 2.9.2, 
2.10.1, 3.2, 3.3, 5.6.2, 5.7.1, 7.2, 
7.3, 10.7, 10.10  (b) identification of authority 
responsible for making notifications to the WTO; It is intended to appoint Gosstandart of Russia and other ministries and agencies concerned responsible 
for preparing notifications. The actual submission of notifications to the WTO will be performed by the 
Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point.  
 (c) Articles 2.9.4, 
2.10.3, 3.1, 3.3, 5.6.4, 5.7.3, 7.1, 
7.3  (c) guidance/law to ensure 
regulatory authorities afford non-discriminatory 
consideration of comments 
in the preparation of a final regulation; The draft Federal Law “Framework Provisions on Technical Regulation, Standardization and 
Confirmation of Conformity” requires that all developers of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures publish any new drafts, and consider and incorporate comments in respect 
thereof from all interested parties. 
 (d) Articles 2.11, 
2.12, 3.1, 5.8, 5.9, 
7.1  (d) guidance/law to ensure 
regulatory authorities 
allow a reasonable period of time between the final 
publication of a technical 
regulation and conformity assessment procedure and 
its entry into force so that 
suppliers can adapt; The draft Federal Law “Framework Provisions on Technical Regulation, Standardization and 
Confirmation of Conformity” provides a sufficient period of time (no less than six months) between 
the adoption of a technical regula tion or a conformity assessment pr ocedure and their enactment, so 
that all measures ensuring co mpliance with the newly introduced requirements may be taken.  
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Page 4 WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
 (e) Article 4, Annex 
3 (J, K, L, N, O);  
Article 8.1  (e) publication and 
notification of work 
programme for standards and non-governmental 
conformity assessment 
procedures, (conformity assessment procedures 
executed by non-
governmental entities) including publication of 
notices of draft standards 
and an opportunity for public comment. These functions will be performed by the Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point by publishing a specialised 
“Vestnik” (Bulletin). Besides, stan dardisation work programmes are pu blished each year in the Annual 
Catalogue of Standards and on the web-site of Gosstandart of Russia: WWW.GOST.RU. 
5. Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 5. Development and Application 
of Technical Regulations and 
Conformity Assessment Procedures. Existence of legal 
and/or administrative 
underpinnings (or “reasonable measures" as appropriate) to 
ensure ongoing compliance with 
provisions of the agreement concerning, in particular:  
 (a) Articles 2.1, 3.1, 
5.1, 5.2, 7.1  (a) non-discrimination with 
respect to the treatment of 
products; There is no discrimination of imported goods (for the purposes of the TBT Agreement) in the Russian 
Federation. 
 (b) Articles 2.2, 3.1, 
5.1, 5.2, 7.1  (b) prohibition of unnecessary 
obstacles to international trade and the consideration 
of less trade-restrictive 
alternatives to fulfilling 
legitimate objectives; Unnecessary obstacles to international trade are be ing lifted in the course of harmonisation of the 
current legislation and conformity assessment proced ures with the international requirements. This 
principle is fully implemented in the draft Fe deral Law Federal Law “Framework Provisions on 
Technical Regulation, Standardizatio n and Confirmation of Conformity”.  
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 Page 5WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
 (c) Article 2.3, 3.1, 
7.1  (c) an ongoing review of 
technical regulations to 
ensure they are appropriate to achieve the desired 
legitimate objective; Ongoing review of technical regulations to ensure th eir conformity to legal requirements is a current 
practice.   
 (d) Article 2.4, 3.1, 
5.4, 7.1  (d) consideration of 
appropriate international 
standards, guides and recommendations as a 
basis for technical 
regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures; Current practice makes ample use of international standards, guides and recommendations in the 
development of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Besides, a commitment to 
use the above as a basis for development of national technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures is provided under the draft Federal Law Federal Law “Framework Provisions on Technical 
Regulation, Standardization and Confirmation of Conformity” 
 (e) Article 2.7, 3.1, 
7.1  (e) consideration of equivalent 
technical regulations of 
other Members; Development of national regulatory acts already involves a review of technical regulations of WTO 
Members. Notably, for standards containing mandatory requirements, this underlying guidance in Law 
5154-1 of the Russian Federation “On Standardisation” (Article 6) of 10 June 1993 (as amended and supplemented on 27 December 1 995)  is currently in effect. 
 (f) Article 6, 7.1  (f) recognition of results of 
conformity assessment 
procedures conducted by competent authorities of 
the exporting Member; Under Article 4 of Law 5151-1 of the Russian Federation “On Certification of Products and Services” 
dated 10 June 1993 as amended by Federal Law 154-FZ of 31 July 1998, Russia recognises the results 
of conformity assessment procedures by all international systems Russia has acceded to  
(Geneva 1955 Treaty on Mechanical Vehicles, Brusse ls Convention for Mutual Recognition of Tests of 
Brands of Handguns and Cartridges, The International Electrotechnical Commission's Quality 
Assessment System for Electronic Components (IECQ), the IEC International System for Confirmation of Test Results and Certification of Electric Equipm ent, the IEC Scheme for Certification of Electric 
Equipment to Standards for Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx). In other cases, recognition of the results 
of conformity assessment procedures is provided under multilateral or bilateral agreements. 
 (g) Article 5.2, 7.1, 
10.4  (g) non-discriminatory and 
cost-based fee structure. Gosstandart of Russia had agreed with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and adopted 
“Rules of Certification. Fees for Certification of Products and Services” which were subsequently 
registered with the Ministry of Justice of th e Russian Federation on 29 December 1999 (reg. No. 
2031). The document provides a uniform fee-payment structure for national and foreign applicants, and is based on the costs effectively incurred by certif ication authorities and testing laboratories in carrying 
out the conformity assessment procedures.  
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Page 6 WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of 
accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
6. Article 4 and Annex 3, 
Article 8 6. Development and Application 
of Standards and Conformity 
Assessment Procedures: Existence of legal and/or 
administrative underpinnings 
(or "reasonable measures" as appropriate) to ensure ongoing 
compliance with provisions of 
the agreement concerning, in particular:  
 (a) Annex 3 (D), 
Article 8.1  (a) non-discrimination with 
respect to the treatment of 
products; There is no discrimination of imported goods (for the purposes of the TBT Agreement) in the Russian 
Federation. 
 (b) Annex 3 (E), 
Article 8.1  (b) prohibition of unnecessary 
obstacles to international trade; Unnecessary obstacles to interna tional trade are being lifted in th e course of harmonisation of the 
current standards and conformity assessment procedur es with their international counterparts. Certain 
required measures were undertak en under the “Interministerial Pr ogramme of Measures for 1999 – 
2000” and further measures are envisaged by a similar programme for 2002 – 2005. 
 (c) Annex 3 (F), 
Article 8.1  (c) consideration of relevant 
international standards, guides and recommendations as a basis 
for standards; This requirement is implemented in the principal standards of the State Standardisation System (GOST 
R 1.0-92 “The State Standardisation System of the Russian Federation. The Main Principles”; GOST R 
1.2-92 “The State Standardisation System of the Russian Federation. The Procedure for Development 
of State Standards.”) 
 (d) Annex 3 (M), 
Annex 3 (P), Articles 8.1, 10.4  (d) non-discriminatory and 
cost-based fee structure. Gosstandart of Russia had agreed with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and adopted 
“Rules of Certification. Fees for Certification of Products and Services” which were subsequently 
registered with the Ministry of Justice of th e Russian Federation on 29 December 1999 (reg. No. 
2031). The document provides a uniform fee-paying structure for national and foreign applicants, and 
is based on the costs effectively incurred by certif ication authorities and testing laboratories in carrying 
out the conformity assessment procedures. The ISO approaches are applied for the purposes of 
payment of the cost of standards. 
 
  
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 Page 7Checklist of SPS Issues in Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO  
 
WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
1. Generally agreed 
principle in WTO accession 
negotiations. 1. Standstill: introduction of new standards, 
animal health regulations and food safety regulations shall conform to SPS Agreement 
principles. The Russian party does not intend to complicat e access to its markets by introducing a less 
favourable treatment for the purposes of the SPS Agreement. Such stand-still principle is 
provided for in the Russian legislation. The basic SPS conformity parameters are defined in 
Russia’s draft commitments in re spect of access to goods and services markets. Measures 
for market protection will be undertaken in full compliance with Russia’s international obligations, the Russian legislation in force a nd the requirements of draft laws currently 
being developed  by reference to TBT and SPS Agreements. All  Sanitary, phytosanitary 
and veterinary  measures undertaken  are aimed solely  at the  protection of  human, environmental, animal and plant health.  
As Russia is preparing to accede to the WTO,  the standstill principle has been implemented 
through the Interministerial
  Programme of Measures to Ensure Compliance with the WTO 
TBT Agreement and the WTO SPS Agreement fo r 1999 – 2001 and will be maintained 
under a similar further programme for 2002 – 2005 to be approved in the II quarter of 2002 . 
2. Article 7 and Annex 
B.3. 2. Establishment and operation of a single 
Contact Point for Information ("enquiry point"). A functioning Russian Single Contact Poin t for TBT/SPS (“TBT/SPS Enquiry Point”) was 
set up by Gosstandart of Russia on the basis of All-Russia Research Institute for Classification, Terminology and Information in Standardisation and Quality (VNIIKI) in 
1999. The function of the TB T/SPS Enquiry Point is to pr ovide, in conjunction with 
specialised information centres of different ministries and agenci es, the necessary SPS-
related information to all interested parties, including foreign participants of international 
trade. 
This Enquiry Point is the centre of a single information network encompassing federal and regional reference points, including specialised information centres of the Ministry of 
Health of the Russian Federation (sanitary and epidemiological issues) and the Ministry of 
Agriculture of the Russian Federation (veterinary and phytosanitary issues). Address of the Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point address: 4 Granatny per., Moscow 103001 
Russian Federation; tel./fax 230 25 98; 
e-mail: 
enpoint@vniiki.ru  
Address of the Ministry’s of Health of the Russian Federation Centre for Regulation and 
Certification is: 18/20 Vadkovsky per., Moscow 101479 Russian Federation; tel. 978 2496, 
fax 973 1976; e-mail: snodeadmin20@gost.ru  
Address of the Principal Computing Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian 
Federation: 15 Krzhizhanovskogo street, Moscow, Russian Federation; tel. 124 7796; fax: 
124 7374 ( www.aris.ru ).  
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Page 8 WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
3. Articles 7 and Annex 
B, also G/SPS/7. 3. Transparency: notification and access to 
documentation:  
 (a) Annex B.5(b) 
and Annex B.10.  (a) identification of authority responsible 
for making notifications to the WTO 
and ensuring transp arency obligations 
are met on an ongoing basis; (A) The Russian TBT/SPS Enquiry Point set up  by Gosstandard of Russia is the agency 
responsible for submitting notifications to the WTO, distribution of information and 
providing access to SPS documentation (in compliance with the transparency commitments), and it will be performing such functions in full immediately upon accession. 
Preparation of the necessary materials and doc uments pertains to the authority of the 
Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (sanitary and epidemiological issues) and the Ministry of Agriculture (animal and plant health control and quarantine). 
 (b) Annex B.5(a).  (b) establish guidance or law requiring 
publication of proposed measures at an 
early stage for comment; (B) A press organ for official publication of  notifications will be appointed by the 
Government of the Russian Federation as re quired under the SPS Agreement. The Russian 
TBT/SPS Enquiry Point, which has started publis hing a specialised “Vestnik” (Bulletin), is 
currently ready to assume this function. This requirement will be implemented upon the 
accession. It proposed inter alia to publish draf t   sanitary rules and norms in “Vestnik”  
At present, listings of newly developed sanitary legislation are published in specialised journals. The development programme for state sanitary and epidemiological regulation in 
2002 – 2005 may be viewed on the Ministry’s of Health Regulation and Certification Centre 
webpage (under “Documents”) at www.crc.ru
. Since September 2000, the “Bulletin of 
Regulations and Guidelines of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Authority of 
the Ministry of Health” comes out quarterly. The eighth issue of the Bulletin is currently 
ready for publication. 
Regulatory and legal documents on veterinary and phytosanitary measures are published in 
the Information Bulletin of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, “Veterinary Practice” magazine, newspapers “Veterinary Consultant” and “Veterinary 
Gazette”.  
 (c) Annex B.5.(c).  (c) implement through legislation or 
administrative procedures a 
requirement to provide list of proposed measures to WTO Members; and (C) The draft Federal Law “Framework Provisions on Technical Regulation, 
Standardization and Confirmation of Conformity” (submitted to the Government of the 
Russian Federation on 29 March 2002, currently being prepared for presentation for consideration of the State Duma) requires all developers of technical regulations to publish 
new drafts and incorporate the comments of interested parties and provide WTO Members 
with lists of proposed measures.  
After the Law is adopted this requirement will be additionally implemented in state sanitary, 
veterinary and epidemiological regulations.  
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 Page 9WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
 (d) Annex B.5(d).  (d) implement through legislation or 
administrative procedures a reasonable 
period of time for comment from Members and the public, and establish 
a process for incorporating comments 
without discrimination. (D) The draft Federal Law “Framework Provisions on Technical Regulation, 
Standardization and Confirmation of Conformity” provides a sufficient period of time for 
comments from Members and interested persons regarding newly developed Russian laws, standards and other documents, and sets forth the requirement to consider and incorporate 
any relevant comments and proposals. 
Comments and proposals are considered and incorporated without discrimination unless capable of adversely affecting protection of human health, human environment, animal and 
plant health. Prior to final approval of a draft, a discrepancy protocol is produced 
substantiating the reasons for incorporating or failure to incorp orate comments and 
proposals to be discussed by the interested parties in conference. 
4. Article 2.2. 4. Necessity: me asures are applied only to the 
extent necessary to protect human, animal or 
plant health. Pursuant to Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On San itary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the 
Population” dated 30 March 1999 (Article 1), the purpose of sanitary and epidemiological 
requirements is to eliminate environmental factors dangerous for man, ensure product 
safety, protection of human life and health , as well as prevention of occurrence and 
dissemination of diseases. Such sanitary and ep idemiological requirements are passed in the 
form of sanitary rules and hygienic regulations  (Article 37 of the above Law) subject to 
subsequent state registration with the Ministry of Justice of Russia and official publication, 
to take effect, as a general rule, no less than 3 months from being passed. Extraordinary 
measures require a resolution by the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation and remain in effect until the danger is eliminated (Article 51).  
Pursuant to the requirements of Federal Law No. 4979-1 of the Russian Federation “On 
Veterinary Service” dated 14 May 1993 and th e Code of the International Office of 
Epizootics, relevant measures are applied only to the extent necessary to protect human and 
animal health. Extraordinary m easures require a resolution by the Chief State veterinary 
Inspector of the Russian Federation and remain in effect until the source of a transmittable 
animal disease is liquidated 
Under Resolution No. 268 of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the State Plant 
Quarantine Service of the Russian Federation” dated 23 April 1992, phytosanitary quarantine applies only to the extent necessary to suspend  imports and acclimatization  of  
quarantine pests  on the territory  of  the Russian Federation. 
Federal Law No. 99-FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” of 15 July 2000 provides framework 
principles for implementing plant quarantine in the Russian Federation. 
Russia refers to the SPS Agreem ent and reserves the right, as all other countries, to 
introduce phytosanitary measures in respect of harmful organisms which have not been 
completely studied in phytosanitary terms and can be potentially dangerous for Russia, with 
subsequent analysis of the phytosanitary risk  involved in accordance with the international 
guidelines (standards).   
 WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.2 
Page 10 WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
5. Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 
5.2. 5. Science-based regulations: regulations 
governing animal and plant health protection 
and food safety control shall be based on scientific evidence. Pursuant to Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On San itary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the 
Population” dated 30 March 1999, regulations governing human health protection and food 
safety shall be based on comprehensive scientific evidence and relevant international experience (Article 38). 
Pursuant to Law No. 4979-1 of the Russian Federation “On Veterina ry Service” dated 14 
May 1993, any existing and newly developed vete rinary regulatory documents have to be 
based on scientific evidence or international requirements. 
The Federal Law “On Quarantine of Plants” and Resolution No. 268 of the Government of 
the Russian Federation “On the State Plant Qu arantine Service of the Russian Federation” 
dated 23 April 1992, require, among other provisions, that phytosanitary risks and their 
management (i.e. phytosanitary measures) must be evidenced and supported by scientific 
evidence, and prohibit application of phytosan itary measures for purposes other than plant 
quarantine regulation, etc. 
According to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the 
recommendations of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO),  all science-based phytosanitary measures are evidenced by research projects based 
on international guidelines (standards).    
6. Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 
3.4. 6. Harmonization: to the maximum possible 
extent, members shall follow international standards, guidelines, and recommendations 
in establishing SPS measures. Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population” 
dated 30 March 1999 (Article 38) and the Stat ute on the State Sanitary and Epidemiological 
Regulations approved by Resolution No. 554 of the Government of the Russian Federation 
dated 24 July 2000 (Section 5 and 6), require that international requirements and 
recommendations must be analysed and used in national sanitary regulations and legislation. Implementing provisions are included in Fede ral Law No. 4979-1 “On Veterinary Service” 
dated 14 May 1993 and Resolution No. 268 of the Government of the Russian Federation 
“On the State Plant Quarantine  Service of the Russian Federation” dated 23 April 1992. 
Notably, for the purposes of substantiation of a phytosanitary measure, the above 
instruments refer, wherever applicable, to recommendations of IPPC and EPPO and 
international standards. For the purposes of WTO accession, Russia is re viewing its legislative and regulatory acts, 
guidelines and procedural documents related to valuation and control of products and goods 
to ensure their compliance to international st andards and requirements. Such review will 
continue, however its  effectiveness and expedition depend to much extent on the 
availability of budgetary financing and foreign technical assistance.*  
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7. Article 4. 7. Equivalence: Members shall recognize 
measures maintained by other Members 
provided that the same level of protection is achieved. Russia is complying with the equivalence prin ciple for the purposes of the SPS Agreement 
as long as sanitary and phytosanitary measures maintained by other countries conform to the  
level of protection of public, animal and plant health as adopted in the Russian Federation. A special conformity expertise is  foreseen to this effect.  
The procedure for sanitary and epidemiological  examination of products and issuance of 
sanitary and epidemiological opinions establishing conformity (or non-conformity) of products to sanitary and epidemiological requirements are provided by Russian law, 
resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation and Order 325 of the Ministry of 
Health of the Russian Federation “On San itary and Epidemiological Assessment of 
Products” dated 15 August 2001 (as amended and supplemented by Order No. 84 of the 
Ministry of Health 18 March 2002) 
     The procedure for veterinary and sanitary examination of animal products and primary products and issuance of a veterinary opinion establishing conformity (or non-conformity) 
of products to veterinary and sanitary requirements are provided by Russian law, resolutions 
of the Government of the Russian Federation, the “Instruction on the Procedure for Issuance of Veterinary Accompanying Documents for Cargoes Regulated by the State Veterinary 
Surveillance Authority” approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Products of the 
Russian Federation on 12 April 1997, No. 13-7-2/871 and registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on 22 May 1997, No. 1310.. 
As for the phytosanitary control, the procedures and the authority to conduct laboratory 
analysis and laboratory examination of regulated products are provided by Federal Law 99-
FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” on 15 July 2000 and the Regulations of the State Service of 
Quarantine of Plants in the Russian Federation approved by Resolution 268 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 23 April 1992 (as amended and supplemented 
on 1 October 1998).  
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Page 12 WTO Reference Commitments (by the time of accession) Progress of Implementation; Estimated Time  Required to Undertake the Commitment 
8. Article 5.1, 5.2 and 
5.3. 8. Risk Assessment: obtaining scientific 
evidence and conducting risk assessments to 
ensure that measures are science-based and applied only to the extent necessary to 
protect human, animal and plant health. Under current legislation of the Russian Federation (Federal Law No. 52-FZ “On Sanitary 
and Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population” dated 30 March 1999, Federal Law No. 
99-FZ “On Quarantine of Plants” dated 15 July 2000, Federal Law No. 4979-1 “On Veterinary Service” dated 14 May 1993, and Re solution No. 268 of the Government of the 
Russian Federation “On the State Plant Quarantin e Service of the Russian Federation” dated 
23 April 1992)  All measures undertaken are based on scientific evidence and risk 
assessment (examination of the degree of poten tial threat latent in a harmful factor or 
commodity) to the extent that is necessary for protection of human, environmental, animal 
and plant health.  At the same time  existing  state system of  sanitary and phytosanitary 
regulation basically is determined by  actual  technical  and economic  capacities  prevailing 
in the country. 
Russia envisages further improvement of regulation of risk assessment through harmonisation with international risk assessment methods, (with due regard inter alia to the 
economic factors as provided for in Article 5.3) a profound analysis and development or 
theoretical solutions, perfecting methods of analysis and control of safety of products for human, animal and plants health. The success of this effort-consuming undertaking will 
largely depend on the finances available,  foreign, technical, expert assistance and 
consultations, access to modern technologies and control and analytical equipment for 
research institutions and product control laboratories.*  
9. Article 6 and Annexes 
A.6 and A.7. 9. Regional characteris tics: measures reflect 
the regional characteristics both of the areas 
from which products originate and the areas for which they are destined. All measures maintained under sanitary legisl ation apply without discrimination to both the 
area of origin of the goods and the target area.  Regional characteristics are relevant only for 
the purposes of risk assessment of different factors, including the public nutrition structure, and subject to the permitted daily dose (PDD) recommended by international organisations. 
Pursuant to the Statute on the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulations approved by 
Resolution No. 554 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 24, 2000, the relevant regulation in the Russian Federation is provided by federal sanitary rules and 
hygienic regulations only. Where necessary  to accommodate certain  special hygienic, 
epidemiological and ecological factors and the stat e of public health in any particular region 
of the Russian Federation, special sanitary rules will be adopted for and will regulate such 
territory.  
Veterinary measures reflect the regional ch aracteristics pursuant to Federal Law No. 4979-1 
“On Veterinary Service” dated 14 May 1993, and the requirements of the International 
Office of Epizootics. Regional characteristics are a f actor for the purposes of devising phytosanitary measures for 
use in a particular region.   
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10. Article 2.3, and 
Annex C.1(a) and (d). 10. Non-discrimination: unwarranted   
(unjustified) discrimination of Members and 
differentiated treatment of national and foreign suppliers are prohibited. Non-discriminatory treatment is provided by the current legislation of the Russian 
Federation. Sanitary-epidemiological, veterinary and phytosanitary requirements are applied 
without discrimination to both domestic and foreign producers and domestic and foreign suppliers. 
11. Article 8 and   Annex C. 11. Control, inspection and approval procedures: 
ensure that procedures, including systems 
for approval of the use of additives or for 
establishing tolerances for contaminants in foods, beverages or foodstuffs comply with 
the Agreement. The Russian Federation continues to improve its procedures for sanitary and phytosanitary 
control, inspection and approval, to such extent  as the available technologies and finances 
allow. Notably, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved new 
“Regulations on Sanitary and Epidemiological Examination of Products by Order 325 of 15 August 2001 (replacing Order 217 of the Ministry of Health) (as amended and 
supplemented on 18 March, 2002, No. 84). This Order specifies and details products that 
are subject to sanitary and epidemiological ex amination the list of which has been reduced 
as compared to the previous version, provides a revised validity term for a sanitary and 
epidemiological approval (5 year s or 1 year for pilot batch). An  approval issued by a centre 
of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Authority is valid everywhere in the 
Russian Federation. 
Procedures for sanitary and phytosanitary cont rol, inspection and approval will be gradually 
adjusted to the SPS Agreement requirements through developm ent of new legislation and 
regulations, improvement of logistics of sanitary, veterinary and quarantine institutions 
under the Programme of Measures to Ensu re Complete Complia nce with the TBT/SPS 
Agreements of the WTO for 2002 – 2005. 
* Given the current economic situation in th e country successful implementation of the above measures largely depends on the ex tent to which the following 
arrangements and tasks may be implemented: 
 
- identify, obtain, translate into Russian, analyse in scientific and legal terms the relevant new international, regional and na tional documents related to 
protection of human, environmental, animal health and quarantine of plants; 
- compare them with the existing Russian regulatory and legal docu ments and guidelines in terms of the realities of world trade a nd current regulation of 
products and goods maintained by the exporting countries. 
- conduct further scientific studies and resear ch for the purpose of improving the methodology of risk assessment and preparation  of modern national risk 
assessment guidelines; 
- develop new criteria of safety of products and services; 
- develop and implement modern control methods for safety criteri a and retooling of academic and research institutions and contro lling institutions directly 
involved in SPS area.    
 
This review may be successfully carried out granted timely fi nancial support enabling access to information and acquisition of equipment, and granted also expert 
assistance and consulting, additional specialised seminars, expe rt training, including language courses, experience sharing and  its use for improvement of the existing 
Russian SPS regulation to provide better guarantees for protection of human, animal and plant health. We also need to educate R ussian producers and suppliers of 
import products about the changes taking place in the structure and practices of state surveillance and safety control of produ cts entering the consumer market.  
 WT/ACC/SPEC/RUS/13/Rev.2 
Page 14  
To organise and coordinate these activities, it is required to create supplementary specialised divisions within the Ministry o f Health of the Russian Federation and 
the Ministry of Agriculture equipped with professional  staff qualified to deal with the WTO-related issues. 
 
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