Protection of the Industrial Market through Technical Regulation Tools Discussed at Russian Business Week Forum
On February 16, 2026, Russian Business Week forum convened government and business representatives to discuss the utilization of technical regulation, standardization, and conformity assessment measures to safeguard manufacturers within Russia and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The session was moderated by Andrey Lotsmanov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Committee on Technical Regulation. Key participants included Alexander Shokhin, President of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; Dmitry Volvach, Head of the Federal Accreditation Service; Dmitry Kuznetsov, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; Vladimir Timofeev, Head of the Rosstandart Department; Viktor Nazarenko, Chairman of the Export Product Quality Support Center Association; and other distinguished attendees.
Alexander Shokhin, RUIE President, emphasized the critical role of technical regulation in protecting domestic industries from unscrupulous foreign competition. He highlighted the ongoing progress in restoring state oversight over product compliance, a matter previously raised by RUIE in 2021. During the forum, a cooperation agreement was signed between RUIE and RusAccreditation.
Dmitry Volvach, Head of RusAccreditation, reported that over 80% of market goods are subject to mandatory requirements. In 2025, 399 new laboratories and 90 certification bodies were accredited. Since 2020, the duration of public services has been reduced by a factor of four, with the average processing time now not exceeding 32 days.
Dmitry Kuznetsov, Deputy Head of the Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, underscored the necessity for enhanced state supervision. He cited the ongoing experiment on building materials control (September 2024 — September 2026), which has demonstrated a decrease in the incidence of violations. Effective September 1, 2026, a new form of state control over industrial products will be implemented.
Vladimir Timofeev, Head of the Department of Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology, presented experimental data indicating that the proportion of unsafe products on the market ranges up to 22% (cement), 21% (cable), and 18% (radiators). During the period, 40,000 preventive measures and 5,500 supervisory inspections were conducted.
Andrey Lotsmanov, Deputy Chairman of the RUIE Committee, advocated for the differentiation between legitimate businesses and counterfeiters, emphasizing the need for stringent control measures specifically targeting the latter. He noted the positive return on investment in standardization (1:20) and highlighted the asymmetric certification requirements for Russian and foreign suppliers.
Viktor Nazarenko, Chairman of the Export Product Quality Support Center Association, proposed the establishment of an expert platform involving business representatives to develop recommendations for eliminating technical barriers and protecting the EAEU market from unfair competition.
Following the forum, businesses were encouraged to actively participate in the formulation of a list of technical barriers for exporters. The resulting resolution will be submitted to the authorities of the Russian Federation and Eurasian Economic Commission.
Photo source: RUIE official website.