International Standards

The Slovak Republic has made impressive strides in its transformation to a market economy over the last six years, and after a slowdown for the period between 1990 and 2000, economic activity has picked up. Domestic trade reforms, including economic restructuring and increase in foreign investment inflows, are improving Slovakia's economic prospects, according to a WTO report on the trade policies and practices of the Slovak Republic. 

The Slovak Republic is a part of the EU. I such a way, all the country’s trade standards coincide with the European ones. Products tested and certified in different countries according to the international regulations and standards have to be retested and re-certified to EU requirements as a result of the EU’s different approach to the protection of the health and safety of consumers and the environment. 

The Slovak standards organization is a process based on the rules, established by the European Commission and carried out by independent standards bodies, acting at the national, European or international level. 

Most of the Slovak standards are adopted by international standards bodies such as the International Standards Organization (ISO). The drafting of specific standards in the Slovak Republic is handled by three European standards organizations:

1. CENELEC, European Committee for Electro-technical Standardization: http://www.cenelec.eu  

2. ETSI, European Telecommunications  Standards Institute: http://www.etsi.org  

3. CEN, European Committee for Standardization, handling all other standards: http://www.cen.eu/cen/pages/default.aspx  

TRADE LICENSE

If you intend to establish new trade business in Slovakia, it is essential to be granted a residency status which allows you to conduct business. This means not all types of residency allow the importer/exporter to do business in Slovakia. If the person is intend to conduct a trade, he/she needs to notify the Trade Licencing Office and obtain a Trade Licence.

The activity would be regarded as unauthorised trading if the person systematically, independently, on his/her own behalf, on his/her own responsibility, for the purpose of earning profits, without holding a Trade Licence, performs an activity subject to craft, regulated or unregulated trades. 

The Trade Licencing Office issues trade licenses. The first step is to notify the office about the intention to pursue trade. The importer/exporter can do that in person at the district trade licensing office based on his/her permanent residence. The addresses of the offices are available on the Interior Ministry’s website, search by region (in Slovak) www.slovensko.sk .

APPLICATION FOR A TRADE LICENSE

All applicants need to fill in a form, either for natural persons or legal persons. For natural persons it is necessary to state the personal information, residential address, place of business (if it is different from the residential address), and the business name of their health insurer.

Natural persons with permanent residence in Slovakia need to prove they are impeccable by handing in an abstract from criminal records of the General Prosecutor’s Office. In case of foreigners, they need the abstract from criminal records issued in their homeland. If their country does not issue such a record, applicants need to submit an equal document issued by the respective court or administrative body. The documents cannot be older than three months and must be translated into Slovak.

Applicants also need to submit the certificate authorising them to use a property at which they will do business (if the address is different from the address of permanent residency).

Regarding craft and fixed trade licences, applicants also need to submit a certificate confirming their professional competence to carry out the business.

As for legal persons, they need to fill in their business name, legal form and residence, as well as information about the statutory body.

Part of the application is also a certified copy of agreement or founding document, as well as documents necessary for listing the company on the business register.

When submitting an online application via www.slovensko.sk  , applicants need to fill in an e-form, which requires the same data as the paper form. Applicants, however, need to sign it via electronic signature, for which they need an ID card with an electronic chip.

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

In order to sell products in the Slovak Republic, the exporters are required to apply CE marking whenever their product is covered by specific product legislation. CE marking product legislation offers manufacturers a number of choices and requires decisions to determine which safety/health concerns need to be addressed, which conformity assessment module is best suited to the manufacturing process, and whether or not to use EU-wide harmonized standards.

The CE marking is not intended to include detailed technical information on the product, but there must be enough information to enable the inspector to trace the product back to the manufacturer or the local contact established in the Slovak Republic. This detailed information should not appear next to the CE marking, but rather on the declaration of conformity (which the manufacturer or authorized agent must be able to provide at any time, together with the product's technical file), or the documents accompanying the product. 

PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

The Licence Authority of the Slovak Ministry of Economy must license imports of animals, animal products, plants and vegetable products. The individual items are subject to the Public Notice #15/98 and Act 576/2001 of Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic stipulating conditions to grant an official permit for import and exports of goods and services, and Act #147/96 of Collection.

These products from import administration point of view can be split into two groups. The first group covers live animals, foodstuffs and foodstuffs of animal origin and fodders, requires veterinary certificates by the State Veterinary Administration of the Slovak Republic. The second group, includes plants and seeds, requires phytopathological sanitary certificate and in some cases even additional declaration by FITO Service.

Pharmaceuticals require an import licence issued by the Ministry of Health. At the same time any pharmaceutical is subject to the registration by the State Institute of Pharmaceutical Control prior to import.

Electrical appliances, toys, fireworks and cosmetics must conform to safety regulations being identical with those of EU.

LABELING REQUIREMENTS

There are strict requirements governing the labelling of dairy foods, baby foods, canned foods, vinegar, beverages, edible oil and fats and gourmet powder (defined as an article containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) and used for food seasoning) that must be met.

Food products must be approved and registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When seeking registration importers must supply two samples of each product, details of the exact composition by percentage of each ingredient, and six labels. Foodstuffs in sealed containers are also subject to specific regulations.

Food products imported into The Slovak Republic must be labelled in English and Slovak languages,  displaying the following information for consumers:

- name and brand of the product (both generic and trade);

- registration number;

- name and address of the manufacturer;

- name and address of the importer;

- date of manufacturing and expiry;

- net weight and volume;

- any additives used;

- health and nutritional claims (if any).

Labels for alcoholic beverages must display the percentage of alcohol content. There must also be a health warning, printed in Slovak, on the label or on a sticker, with specific government-approved wording.

Regulations also govern the labeling on cosmetic products. Generally a local agent or importer can help to register a product and ensure labeling requirements are met.