International Standards

The State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus (Gosstandart) was established according to the Decree No. 289 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 05.05.2006 «Оn the structure of the Government of the Republic of Belarus» by force of fusion of the Committee for standardization, metrology and certification under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, Committee for energy efficiency under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus and the Department of the state constructional surveillance under the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Belarus. 

The State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus (Gosstandart) is the republican public authority for implementation of the common governmental policy in technical regulation, standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, energy efficiency, for carrying out surveillance in construction and inspection of projects and estimates compliance with regulations and standards, as well as supervision of fuel, electric and heat energy rational use. 

The central office and organizations of Gosstandart implement a wide range of tasks, including the following:

- raising the safety, quality and competitiveness of products (services), rational use of fuel and energy resources, elimination of technical barriers to trade, protection the state and consumer interests;

- ensuring effective functioning and development of the systems for technical regulation and standardization; assurance of uniformity of measurements; accreditation; conformity attestation;

- pursuance of the overall coordination of technical regulations and governmental standards preparation, creation and approval of plans (programs) for their development taking into account the proposals of the republican public authorities, organizations;

- ensuring the creation, development and maintenance at the required level of technical base of standards of units, organization of state tests, metrological attestation, verification and calibration of measuring instruments;

- coordination and organization of works on certification of products, works, services, personnel, quality management systems, environmental management systems, occupational safety and health, energy consumption, food safety, etc.;

- formation of the state policy on the efficient use of fuel and energy resources, organization of development and implementation of national concepts and programs for energy saving;

- pursuance of the state supervision over observance of technical regulations and standards, over measuring instruments, rational use of fuel, electrical and heat energy;

- surveillance in construction and inspection of projects and estimates compliance with regulations and standards;

- organization and coordination of works on international cooperation of the Republic of Belarus in the field of technical regulation, standardization, metrology, accreditation, efficient use of fuel and energy resources.

LABELING REQUIREMENTS

Before importing of exporting FMCG and agricultural products, the seller has to present the labeling declaration with a number of requirenments, such as: 

1) All the information about the product has to be printed on a label securely affixed to the package or printed on the package itself;

2) All lables on the package have to be printed in Russian and Belarussian languages;

3) All the products with only one standard EU or the USA label are not allowed to be placed on the market;

4) All products with false, misleading or deceprive representation are not allowed to be placed on the market;

5) The content on the label has to be clear, prominent, indelible, and readily legible by the consumer.

The governance is sceptic about pre-packaged food. That is why, they have elaborated a number of items which have to be presented on the label before the products' export or import. These are:

1) The name of the food (the name of food shall include trade name or description of food contained in the package);

2) List of ingredients, except for single ingredient foods (the list shall be declared on the label, in descending order of their composition by weight or volume);  

3) Nutritional information (all nutritional facts per 100 gram or 100 ml);

4) Declaration regarding vegetarian and non vegetarian (vegetarian food must have a symbol consisting of green color-filled circle inside a square with a green outline prominently displayed on the package; non-vegitarian must have a symbol of a brown color-filled circle inside a square with a brown outline prominently displayed on the package);

5) Declaration of food additives;

6) Name and address of the manufacturer (the label shall carry the name and complete address of the manufacturing or packing or bottling unit and also the name and complete address of the manufacturer or the company for and whose behalf it is manufactured or packed or bottled);

7) Net quantity (by weight or volume or number, shall be declared on every package of food);

8) Lot/code/batch identification (a mark of identification by which the food can be traced in the manufacture and identify in the distribution shall be given on the label);

9) Date of manufacture or packing (the date, month and year in which the commodity is manufactured, packed or pre-packed, shall be given on the label);

10) Best before date or use by date or date of expiry (the month and year in capital letters up to which the product is best for consumption);

11) Country of origin;

12) Instructions for use, if applicable (if necessary, shall be included on the label to ensure correct utilization of the food).

Raw agricultural commodities, spice mixes, condiments, non-nutritive products, alcoholic beverages, fruits and vegetables, processed pre-packaged vegetables and fruits are exempted from nutritional labeling requirements. 

SPECIAL CERTIFICATES

Cargo and goods being imported into the country must be secured and fully concealed with documentation of commercial invoice, bill of lading, labeling and measurements. Most imports come via ports through the gulf and are apparent to customs upon arrival.

Every importer or exporter has to prepare the following documents in order to sell on both local and international markets:

- Commercial Invoice

All imports of goods and services must have their commercial invoice stamped and legalised by government from origin of export. Without this document companies will be fined and goods may be rejected from entry.

- Bill Of Lading

When exporting products to a non-governmental importer in Belarus it must include the bill of lading. When items are declared they are subject to different tax thresholds and must include:

a) marks of identification, name and address of consignee

b) quantities, weights and values.

- Certificate of insurance

Certificates must include details about the overall program, project or contract that is being embarked on, information about your organization, total value of the project and other details may be requested and all sections of the form must be filled out and in order.