W-Questions / GOST-Certificate of the EAEU-States

What is a GOST-Certificate?

For decades, the GOST certificate was the official proof of conformity of products with national safety and quality standards in Russia and the CIS states. ‘GOST’ stands for Gosudarstveny Standard (Russian state standard).

In Russia, the GOST system has now largely been replaced by the EAC certification system of the EAEU, but GOST continues to apply in many areas as a supplement or independently.

The GOST certificate confirms that a product complies with the specific national standards of Russia or other CIS countries. These certificates are still in demand, particularly in certain branches of industry or at the customer's request.

When is a GOST-Certificate required?

A GOST certificate is required if:

1. The product does not fall under the EAC regulations,
2. a business partner or importer expressly requests it,
3. a product is supplied to government organisations (tender),
4. a product is used in industries with special requirements.

GOST continues to be in particularly high demand for:

1. Industrial equipment and spare parts
2. Materials, building materials and chemicals
3. Safety-relevant machines and systems

Difference between GOST- and EAC-Certificate?

Who issues GOST-Certificates?

GOST certificates are issued by accredited certification bodies that are authorized in accordance with GOST-R. These test centers carry out the necessary conformity assessment, including product tests, factory audits or document checks, depending on the type of certificate.

Important: The body must be recognized by the accreditation authority.

What types of GOST-Certificates are there?

1. Voluntary GOST certificate: Often issued for marketing purposes or at the customer's request. It strengthens confidence in product quality and safety.

2. Mandatory GOST certificate: Rare today! Only required for a few special areas if no TR ZU/EAWU regulation applies.

3. GOST declaration (declaration of conformity): Simplified form of conformity assessment (similar to the EAC declaration).

How does GOST-Certification work?

1. Inquiry and submission of documents: technical documentation, safety data, instructions for use, technical passports and safety analyses.

2. Product testing and factory audit: performance of product tests and production audits by an accredited laboratory or approval body.

3. Assessment and issuing of the certificate: validity depending on type: 1 to 5 years (for series deliveries) or one-off certification (individual delivery).

4. Registration in the national system (for mandatory certificate): GOST certification is entered in the national register.

What does a GOST-Certificate cost?

The costs depend on:

1. Type of certificate (individual delivery or series delivery)
2. Product type and technical parameters
3. Scope of the product tests
4. Number of product variants
5. Validity of the certificate

Price range:

1. Voluntary GOST certificate: from 500 to 2,500 Euro
2. Mandatory GOST certificate: from 1,000 to 6,000 Euro

Costs for laboratory tests and translations may be added.

In which countries is the GOST-Certificate valid?

A GOST certificate is valid nationally, in particular in:

• Russia (GOST-R)
• Kazakhstan (GOST-K)
• Uzbekistan (GOST-UZ)
• Belarus (GOST-B)
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Armenia
• Kyrgyzstan

Please note: Most of these countries have replaced GOST with their own forms of certification or the EAC system. Nevertheless, GOST may still be mandatory for local authorities, tenders or major customers.

How long is a GOST-Certificate valid?

• Individual delivery: For a specific delivery
• Series delivery: 1 year, 3 years or 5 years

Why is a GOST-Certificate important?

• It increases customer acceptance
• It may be required for government tenders
• It may be required for government industry projects
• It facilitates customs clearance and product registration
• It shows compliance with national quality standards