Effective February 15, the Russian government has scrapped mandatory certification of food and cosmetic products sold in the country.

According to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the proportion of products that are subject to mandatory certification subsequently dropped from 78% to 54%. Indeed, certification remains compulsory for gas, petroleum oils, automobile tires, gas-turbine engines, chemicals, and oil and gas refining equipment, rails and rolling stock, electrical equipment, automobiles, busses, elevators, household appliances, children’s footwear, clothing, and dishes, school furniture, medicines and medicinal products, toilet paper and other hygiene products, musical instruments, and cigarettes.

Manufacturers of cosmetics, perfumes and cleaning supplies can now use the procedure for voluntary declarations of product compliance.