Countries / EAEU & Central Asia

Russia

Many consumer categoriesChecked 31 Oct 2026
SystemChestny ZNAK (operator CRPT)
Code on the productGS1 DataMatrix with a state-issued crypto tail; codes are bought from the operator per unit
AggregationProducers aggregate units into cases and pallets so that shipping documents carry every code. It becomes unavoidable when a group moves to per-unit accounting: soft drinks from March 2026, dairy and vegetable oils from November 2026, canned food from October 2027.
First stepGet GS1 product numbers (GTIN) for every SKU and register with the national operator: Chestny ZNAK.
Supplier checklist (PDF)

Overview

The widest national marking system in the world. It started with tobacco, footwear and medicines and now covers more than 30 product groups, from dairy and water to beer, sweets, tea, coffee and electronics. About fifteen more groups run as voluntary pilots before they become mandatory. A product without a valid code cannot be sold: the till checks every code online.

If you supply this market

  1. Get GS1 product numbers (GTIN) for every SKU and register with the national operator: Chestny ZNAK.
  2. Order a code for every unit from the operator before production.
  3. Print and verify every code on the line; aggregate into cases and pallets where the product group requires it.
  4. Report the goods into circulation before they are sold.

Typical steps for this type of regime. The exact rules are in the sources. Choosing equipment: printing methods.

Timeline

Coming next

  • 1 Nov 2026Dairy with a shelf life over 40 days and vegetable oils: per-unit accounting
  • 1 Dec 2026Pet food and building materials: per-unit accounting. Electronics: sale of unmarked goods banned
  • 1 Jun 2027Tea and coffee: retail joins. Meat products: sales reporting
  • 1 Jul 2027Sweets: retail joins, group packs and gift sets are marked
  • 1 Sep 2027Some baby milk porridges: marking starts
  • 1 Oct 2027Canned food: per-unit accounting. Sanitary and hygiene products: sale of unmarked goods banned, wholesale and retail report to the system (Decree 1681)
  • 1 Dec 2027Snacks, sauces and spices: per-unit accounting

Already in force

  • 2019Tobacco
  • 2020Footwear, medicines, tyres, perfume, cameras
  • 2021Apparel and textiles, dairy (phased to 2023), bottled water (phased to 2023)
  • 2023Beer and low-alcohol drinks, juices and soft drinks, dietary supplements, antiseptics
  • 2024Medical devices, vegetable oils, canned food, pet food, caviar, veterinary drugs
  • 2025Cosmetics and household chemicals, toys, sports nutrition, motor oils, building materials
  • 1 Mar 2026Soft drinks and non-alcoholic beer: per-unit accounting, codes scanned at the till. Sweets, stage 1: biscuits, wafers, marmalade, marshmallow, oriental sweets, chocolate and nut spreads. Apparel, wave 4. Veterinary drugs: per-unit accounting
  • 1 Apr 2026Tea and tea drinks: marking starts. Motor oils: per-unit accounting and sales reporting from the till
  • 1 May 2026Sweets, stage 2: croissants, cakes, rolls. Electronics (laptops, phones, LED lamps, sockets, circuit boards): marking starts
  • 1 Jun 2026Coffee and chicory: marking starts. Caviar: per-unit accounting
  • 1 Jul 2026Sweets, stage 3: chocolate, dragées, caramel, chewing gum. Cosmetics and household chemicals: sales reporting from the till
  • 1 Aug 2026Meat products: marking starts (Decree No 205)
  • 1 Sep 2026Toys and sports nutrition: sale of unmarked goods banned
  • 1 Oct 2026Canned food, snacks, sauces and spices: codes scanned at the till, accounting by GTIN and quantity. Sausages: marking starts. Sanitary and hygiene products: codes required on new goods

What the code looks like

DataMatrix with a crypto tail (food and drink groups)

DataMatrix with a crypto tail (food and drink groups)

(01) 09506000134352
GTIN
(21) 5Ab8Kz
Serial number, issued by the national operator
(93) dGh2
Crypto tail: lets the state system check the code is genuine

Codes are ordered from the national operator, printed on the line and reported back when the product enters circulation. Illustration built on the GS1 example GTIN; the code does not identify any product.

How this code is built →
DataMatrix with a long crypto tail (apparel, footwear, medicines)

DataMatrix with a long crypto tail (apparel, footwear, medicines)

(01) 09506000134352
GTIN
(21) ABCdef1234567
Serial number, 13 characters
(91) EE10
Verification key ID
(92) k7Qw…
Crypto signature, 44 characters

Structure differs by product group; check the operator rules for your group. Illustration built on the GS1 example GTIN; the code does not identify any product.

How this code is built →

Seen on the shelf

Ryazhenka carton: Chestny ZNAK DataMatrix printed by inkjet next to production and expiry dates
Ryazhenka carton: Chestny ZNAK DataMatrix printed by inkjet next to production and expiry datesPhoto: Sokolikmawwer0 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Milk bottle cap with a Chestny ZNAK DataMatrix label
Milk bottle cap with a Chestny ZNAK DataMatrix labelPhoto: Енин Арсений · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Private-label milk, Moscow 2025: every bottle carries its own code on the cap
Private-label milk, Moscow 2025: every bottle carries its own code on the capPhoto: Retired electrician · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions

Is product marking mandatory in Russia?

Yes. Codes are required on many consumer product groups through Chestny ZNAK.

What is already in force?

2019: Tobacco; 2020: Footwear, medicines, tyres, perfume, cameras; 2021: Apparel and textiles, dairy (phased to 2023), bottled water (phased to 2023); 2023: Beer and low-alcohol drinks, juices and soft drinks, dietary supplements, antiseptics; 2024: Medical devices, vegetable oils, canned food, pet food, caviar, veterinary drugs; 2025: Cosmetics and household chemicals, toys, sports nutrition, motor oils, building materials; 1 Mar 2026: Soft drinks and non-alcoholic beer: per-unit accounting, codes scanned at the till. Sweets, stage 1: biscuits, wafers, marmalade, marshmallow, oriental sweets, chocolate and nut spreads. Apparel, wave 4. Veterinary drugs: per-unit accounting; 1 Apr 2026: Tea and tea drinks: marking starts. Motor oils: per-unit accounting and sales reporting from the till; 1 May 2026: Sweets, stage 2: croissants, cakes, rolls. Electronics (laptops, phones, LED lamps, sockets, circuit boards): marking starts; 1 Jun 2026: Coffee and chicory: marking starts. Caviar: per-unit accounting; 1 Jul 2026: Sweets, stage 3: chocolate, dragées, caramel, chewing gum. Cosmetics and household chemicals: sales reporting from the till; 1 Aug 2026: Meat products: marking starts (Decree No 205); 1 Sep 2026: Toys and sports nutrition: sale of unmarked goods banned; 1 Oct 2026: Canned food, snacks, sauces and spices: codes scanned at the till, accounting by GTIN and quantity. Sausages: marking starts. Sanitary and hygiene products: codes required on new goods.

What code goes on the product?

GS1 DataMatrix with a state-issued crypto tail; codes are bought from the operator per unit.

Is aggregation required?

Producers aggregate units into cases and pallets so that shipping documents carry every code. It becomes unavoidable when a group moves to per-unit accounting: soft drinks from March 2026, dairy and vegetable oils from November 2026, canned food from October 2027.

What changes next?

1 Nov 2026: Dairy with a shelf life over 40 days and vegetable oils: per-unit accounting; 1 Dec 2026: Pet food and building materials: per-unit accounting. Electronics: sale of unmarked goods banned; 1 Jun 2027: Tea and coffee: retail joins. Meat products: sales reporting; 1 Jul 2027: Sweets: retail joins, group packs and gift sets are marked; 1 Sep 2027: Some baby milk porridges: marking starts; 1 Oct 2027: Canned food: per-unit accounting. Sanitary and hygiene products: sale of unmarked goods banned, wholesale and retail report to the system (Decree 1681); 1 Dec 2027: Snacks, sauces and spices: per-unit accounting.

How much does a code cost?

For most product groups a code costs 50 kopecks before VAT. Some socially important goods have a lower rate or none. Check the operator’s price list for your group.

Who orders the codes for imported goods?

A participant registered in Chestny ZNAK, usually the Russian importer. The codes are passed to the manufacturer and printed on its line. Goods can also be marked after production, in a customs warehouse before release.

What happens to goods without a valid code?

The till checks every code online and refuses the sale. Unmarked goods can be seized, and fines apply.

Where can I check the rules?

Start with Chestny ZNAK: product groups. All sources are listed at the end of this page.

Sources

Checked 31 Oct 2026. Seen something outdated? Send a correction.