IMI: CERTIFICATION OF IMPORTED GOODS AND THE MAJOR CERTIFICATION CENTER IN ST.PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

1.SUMMARY: THIS CABLE PRESENTS INFORMATION ON THE ACTIVITIES OF "TEST-ST.PETERSBURG", THE MAJOR CERTIFICATION AND TESTING CENTER IN ST.PETERSBURG AS WELL AS GENERAL INFORMATION ON PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATION OF IMPORTED GOODS. END SUMMARY.

2. FCS ST.PETERSBURG WAS RECENTLY CONTACTED BY THE "TEST-ST.PETERSBURG" TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CENTER WHO REQUESTED POST'S ASSISTANCE IN INFORMING U.S. EXPORT FIRMS OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO CERTIFICATION OF GOODS IMPORTED TO RUSSIA AND OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THIS CENTER IN ST.PETERSBURG.

3. ACCORDING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL LAWS "ON STANDARDIZATION", "ON PROTECTION OF CONSUMER RIGHTS", "ON CERTIFICATION OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES", AND "ON ENSURING MEASUREMENT UNIFORMITY", PRODUCTS, INCLUDING IMPORTED, WHICH ARE SOLD IN RUSSIA MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE CERTIFICATION CENTERS AND INCLUDED IN THE STATE REGISTER. GOSSTANDART (RUSSIAN STATE STANDARDS COMMITTEE) IS THE PRIMARY RUSSIAN STANDARDS ORGANIZATION AND IT DECIDES WHETHER A PRODUCT IS ACCEPTED IN THE STATE REGISTER. SEVERAL CERTIFICATION CENTERS IN RUSSIA HAVE BEEN ACCREDITED BY GOSSTANDART TO CONDUCT TESTING OF SAMPLES AND SUBMIT STATEMENTS OF CONFORMITY TO GOSSTANDART. IN ST.PETERSBURG THESE INCLUDE THE "TEST-ST.PETERSBURG" CERTIFICATION CENTER, VNIIM (MENDELEYEV RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF METROLOGY), AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

4. THERE ARE TWO GROUPS OF PRODUCTS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO OBLIGATORY CERTIFICATION: PRODUCTS WHICH MUST HAVE CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY FOR IMPORT AND RETAIL SALES IN RUSSIA, AND PRODUCTS TO BE CERTIFIED FOR RETAIL SALES ONLY. IN ADDITION, A MANUFACTURER OR A SELLER OF PRODUCTS WHICH ARE NOT SUBJECT TO OBLIGATORY CERTIFICATION CAN ALSO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY IF HE CHOOSES TO DO SO (VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION). IF A PRODUCT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STATE REGISTER THE COMPANY MUST PROVIDE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN, CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY, TEST RESULTS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS DEPENDING ON THE PRODUCT TYPE) TO GOSSTANDART THROUGH EITHER OF THESE CENTERS FOR APPROVAL AND AFTER THAT THE PRODUCT CAN OFFICIALLY BE IMPORTED INTO RUSSIA. REPRESENTATIVES OF GOSSTANDART WORK AT CUSTOMS' POINTS AND CHECK THE IMPORTED GOODS WITH THE STATE REGISTER. THE TESTING AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES CAN BE INITIATED EITHER BY THE U.S. EXPORTER, ITS RUSSIAN DISTRIBUTOR, A LOCAL INSTALLATION FIRM (IN CASE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT) OR THE CUSTOMER (IMPORTER).

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

5. TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY FOR A PRODUCT, THE APPLICANT (EXPORTER, DISTRIBUTOR, OR IMPORTER) APPLIES FOR CERTIFICATE AT ANY CERTIFICATION CENTER ACCREDITED BY GOSSTANDART. THE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY SUCH CENTERS ARE VALID THROUGHOUT RUSSIA. IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE CERTIFICATION CENTER, HE MAY APPLY TO GOSSTANDART OF RUSSIA. THE CERTIFICATION CENTER'S REPLY TO THE APPLICANT CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF CERTIFICATION, A LIST OF REQUIRED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS, AND A LIST OF ACCREDITED TESTINGCENTERS WHICH CAN TEST THE GIVEN PRODUCT. THE APLICANT MAY CHOOSE ANY TESTING CENTER. THE LARG CERTIFICATION CENTER, SUCH AS "TEST-ST.PETERSBUG" AND VNIIM, HAVE THEIR OWN TESTING CENTERS FOR HE MAJORITY OF PRODUCTS.

6. THE APPLICANT MAY CHOOSE THE FOLLOWING TESTING MODES: A) HE CAN SEND SAMPLES TO A CHOSEN RUSSIAN TESTING CENTER B EFORE THE DELIVERY OF THE PRODUCTS LOT; B) IF THE LOT HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO THE RUSSIAN CUSTOMS, HE CAN PROVIDE A TESTING CENTER WITH SAMPLES FROM THE LOT; C) IF THE APPLICANT PREFERS TO HAVE PRODUCTS TESTED AT HIS OWN FACILITIES, A SPECIALIST FROM A RUSSIAN TESTING CENTER CAN COME TO THE APPLICANT'S PRODUCTION SITE TO CONFIRM THE CONFORMITY OF THE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND TESTING METHODS. IN THESE CASES, WHEN ISSUING THE CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY BASED ON THE TESTING OF SAMPLES, THE CERTIFICATION CENTER CAN INSPECT THE WHOLE LOT OR SELECTED ITEMS AT THE CUSTOMS. AS AN EXCEPTION, THE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY WITHOUT PRELIMINARY TESTS CAN BE ACCEPTED IF THE APPLICANT PROVIDES THE MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY OR CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY WITH ISO OR MEC STANDARDS.

PRODUCTS TO BE CERTIFIED FOR IMPORTS

7. THE RUSSIAN STATE COMMITTEE FOR CUSTOMS AND GOSSTANDART OF RUSSIA HAVE ISSUED A LIST OF PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO OBLIGATORY CERTIFICATION OF THEIR CONFORMITY AND SAFETY. THIS LIST INCLUDES: FOOD PRODUCTS; INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS; ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES; VEHICLES; METERING EQUIPMENT; TOYS; CHILDREN'S CLOTHES; FOOTWEAR; AND OTHERS. THIS LIST IS AVAILABLE AT ANY CERTIFICATION CENTER, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT SUCH A CENTER ABOUT ANY PRODUCT TO BE IMPORTED.

8. CERTIFICATION CENTERS CAN ALSO PROVIDE A U.S. FIRM'S DISTRIBUTOR WITH A LARGER LIST OF PRODUCTS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO OBLIGATORY CERTIFICATION FOR RETAIL SALES IN RUSSIA.

TEST-ST.PETERSBURG CERTIFICATION AND TESTING CENTER

9. TEST-ST.PETERSBURG IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CERTIFICATION AND TESTING CENTERS IN THE NORTH-WEST RUSSIA WHICH IS ACCREDITED BY GOSSTANDART AND ENTITLED TO CERTIFY QUALITY SYSTEMS AND THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF COMPARABLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; PERFUMES AND COSMETICS; TOYS; DISHES AND KITCHENWARE; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT; INDIVIDUAL SAFETY DEVICES; LIQUID, SOLID AND GAS FUEL OPERATED HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES; FURNITURE; LIGHT INDUSTRY PRODUCTS; PRODUCTS OF FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS INDUSTRY; REPAIR OF HOUSEHOLD MACHINES AND APPLIANCES; REPAIR OF RADIOELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE VEHICLES. IN 1994, TEST-ST.PETERSBURG ISSUED MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND CERTIFICATES TO CONFIRM SAFETY OF PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM 41 COUNTRIES.

10. TEST-ST.PETERSBURG HAS ONE OF RUSSIA'S LARGEST LABORATORIES FOR TESTING FOOD PRODUCTS, RAW MATERIAL, AND COSMETICS. THE CENTER'S CONSUMER GOODS TESTING LABORATORY IS EQUIPPED WITH TESTING FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO AND MEC-335 INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. THE CENTER ALSO EXERTS STATE CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OVER THE OBSERVANCE OF METROLOGICAL RULES AND STANDARDS IN PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, VETERINARY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, LABOR SAFETY, TRADE OPERATIONS AND MUTUAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS, IN BANKING, TAXATION, CUSTOMS AND MAIL OPERATIONS. TEST-ST.PETERSBURG WORKS IN COOPERATION WITH CERTIFICATION CENTERS IN THE BALTIC COUNTRIES, GERMANY, DENMARK, CHINA, NORWAY, TURKEY, FINLAND, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, AND JAPAN.

11. U.S. EXPORTERS INTERESTED IN EXPORTS AND CERTIFICATION OF THEIR PRODUCTS MAY CONTACT TEST- ST.PETERSBURG FOR DETAILED INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, BELOW IS A LIST OF SOME OTHER CERTIFICATION AND TESTING CENTERS LOCATED IN ST.PETERSBURG.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION: TEST-ST.PETERSBURG
1, UL.KURLYANDSKAYA, ST.PETERSBURG, 198103, RUSSIA
MR YURY GULYNIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL
TEL: 7-(812)-251-4859
FAX: 7-(812)-251-4108

GOSSTANDART
9, LENINSKY PR., MOSCOW, 117049, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(095)-236-4044
FAX: 7-(095)-237-6032

VNIIM (MENDELEYEV INSTITUTE OF METROLOGY)
19, MOSKOVSKY PR., ST.PETERSBURG, 198005, RUSSIA
MR YURY TARBEYEV, CERTIFICATION DEPARTMENT
TEL: 7-(812)-292-5003

POLIMERTEST (POLYMER MATERIALS)
67, UL.KOMMUNY, ST.PETERSBURG, 195030, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-526-6474
FAX: 7-(812)-527-6465

BOLSHEVICHKA (TEXTILE FABRICS AND CLOTHES)
11, UL.TYUSHINA, ST.PETERSBURG, 191119, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-164-4635
FAX: 7-(812)-164-3988

VNIIB (ALL-RUSSIA INSTITUTE OF PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY) (PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTS)
49, 2 MURINSKY PR., ST.PETERSBURG, 194021, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-534-8580
FAX: 7-(812)-550-0988

TKS-OPTIKA (OPTICS)
12, BIRZHEVAYA LINIA, ST.PETERSBURG, 199034, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-218-2414
FAX: 7-(812)-218-2414; 350-9993

TELEFON LONIIS (TELECOMMUNICATIONS)
11, UL.VARSHAVSKAYA, ST.PETERSBURG, 192128, RUSSIA
TEL/FAX: 7-(812)-296-6091

BIOFIZPRIBOR (MEDICAL CONTROL AND FUNCTIONAL DIAGNOSTICS)
37, SABIROVSKAYA UL., ST.PETERSBURG, 197183, RUSSIA
TEL/FAX: 7-(812)-239-6050

VNIIMEM (SMALL ELECTRIC MACHINES)
2, UL.BLAGODATNAYA, ST.PETERSBURG, 196105, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-296-9194
FAX: 7-(812)-296-9120

GAS EQUIPMENT TESTING CENTER
5, UL.TALLINSKAYA, ST.PETERSBURG, 195196, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-(812)-221-6453
FAX: 7-(812)-567-6027