Russia Mandates Marketplaces to Verify Product Info
The Russian government has approved new rules requiring marketplaces to verify the accuracy of product information before publication and conduct regular checks, focusing on safety-critical goods and intellectual property rights. The measures aim to combat counterfeit goods and protect consumers and legitimate producers.
Consensus
- The Russian government approved a new order requiring marketplaces to verify information in product cards before publication.
- Marketplaces must verify information using data from 12 state information systems and registries.
- Verification must be completed within three working days after receiving all necessary data from sellers.
- Marketplaces must conduct repeat checks at least once every 10 working days to maintain data accuracy.
- The new rules apply primarily to goods affecting consumer safety and health.
- The order will come into effect 90 days after official publication.
- The order includes a mechanism for trademark owners to verify their rights through a state registry.
- After successful verification, the trademark logo will be displayed in the product card.
- Existing product cards published before October 1, 2026, must be verified within 180 days of the order's entry into force.
Points of divergence
- The market for counterfeit goods in Russia is estimated at 5 trillion rubles per year, with a large share attributed to Western beauty, perfume, footwear, and accessories brands. — fontanka
- Some sellers use 'muz' (mock-up images) of luxury products like Guerlain flacons, describing them as Russian-made perfumes without mentioning the brand, which is not considered counterfeiting under current law but may constitute misleading advertising. — fontanka
- Sellers can obtain a certificate for an original domestic product to avoid being denied the 'Honest Sign' label, even if the product mimics a foreign brand. — fontanka
- The provisions related to trademark verification will take effect on March 1, 2027. — m24
- The order was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development as part of the 'On Platform Economy' law. — m24
- The Constitutional Court of Russia has ruled that marketplaces are not liable for selling counterfeit goods because they are information intermediaries. — vm
- Lawyer Vladimir Yurasov advised consumers to verify product information in official sources before purchasing. — vm
Coverage (3 sources)
- Marketplaces asked to shuffle cards. A new round of the fight against 'palya' — Фонтанка
- Government approves rules for checking product card information on marketplaces — Вечерняя Москва
- In Russia, rules for checking product cards on marketplaces were approved — Москва 24