Russia Begins Mandatory Labeling of Hygiene Products on September 1
Russia will begin mandatory digital labeling of selected sanitary and hygiene products on September 1 through the Chestny Znak system. Packaging labels become compulsory on October 1, while a full ban on unlabeled goods takes effect on October 1, 2027.
Registration starts on September 1
Russia will launch mandatory digital labeling for selected sanitary and hygiene products on September 1 through the state-operated Chestny Znak traceability system. Kommersant reported the schedule, citing the Center for Research in Perspective Technologies, or CRPT, which operates the platform.
The first stage requires manufacturers, importers and other companies participating in the circulation of covered goods to register with Chestny Znak and order identification codes. From October 1, companies must place those codes on product packaging.
The initial list covers dental floss, sponges, paper towels, cotton products, combs and massagers. The requirements therefore affect a broad group of consumer-goods suppliers, from paper and personal-care manufacturers to importers and regional factories.
Voluntary trial generated 217 million codes
The rollout follows a voluntary experiment that began in September 2025. During the trial, more than 640 companies registered in the system, while businesses added over 10,000 new products to the National Catalogue and ordered more than 217 million labeling codes.
A total of 288 organizations participated in testing, including major manufacturers and regional factories. The figures indicate that a significant part of the industry has already tested product registration, code ordering and the operational procedures needed to identify individual packages.
Companies joining only at the mandatory stage will need to connect their product data, packaging operations and internal accounting systems to the labeling platform. Importers will also have to ensure that covered goods receive the required codes before entering regular commercial circulation in Russia.
Unlabeled trade ends in October 2027
The transition period will continue until October 1, 2027, when Russia will introduce a complete ban on the circulation of unlabeled sanitary and hygiene products in the covered categories. On the same date, companies will be required to transmit retail sales data through online cash registers and use electronic document exchange.
The extended timetable separates the initial registration and packaging obligations from full item-level control at retail and across business transactions. Manufacturers and importers face the first compliance deadline, but wholesalers and retailers will also need compatible inventory, checkout and document systems before the final rules take effect.
The Higher School of Economics estimates that illegal trade accounts for as much as 14% of this market. According to its assessment, bringing those sales into the legal economy could generate more than 50 billion rubles in additional budget revenue and over 130 billion rubles in revenue for compliant businesses over six years. The commercial effect will depend on enforcement and on how quickly market participants can adapt without disrupting supplies or raising operating costs.
