Rosstandart has started retracting safety certificates for vehicle structures issued to cars arriving in Russia through parallel imports when violations are found. This development, reported by oto.ru, reflects a formal step taken during the customs clearance process for imported vehicles. The move marks a tightening of oversight on non-moments of care for vehicles that come into the country via channels other than official dealer networks, and highlights how the safety documentation associated with these vehicles can be revoked if discrepancies or noncompliances are discovered.
Late last year, Rosstandart collaborated with Rosakkreditatsiya, JSC Electronic Passport, and the Ministry of Economic Development to outline penalties for parties that violated the safety documentation system related to parallel imports. Market participants noted that the reasons behind the withdrawal of a certificate can vary. In certain cases the technical data listed for a vehicle may be inaccurate, or the vehicle may fail to meet established environmental and toxicity standards. In such situations, authorities have indicated that the vehicle may be deemed unfit for operation, with the police revoking the vehicle’s permit to use the road and removing its records from the registry, effectively prohibiting its operation on public roads.
Owners of vehicles facing potential cancellation of their safety certificates are advised to engage with accredited testing laboratories to obtain a renewed, compliant document. Access to a qualified laboratory ensures that the new certificate accurately reflects the vehicle’s technical specifications and compliance with current safety and environmental requirements, thereby facilitating lawful operation and registration continuation.
Earlier reports noted that large car dealers began importing vehicles into Russia via parallel import channels with the aim of reselling to other companies. This practice underscores the broader context in which safety certification and import pathways intersect, prompting closer oversight to prevent noncompliant vehicles from circulating under the umbrella of parallel trade. The ongoing regulatory efforts seek to align the safety documentation with the actual vehicle specifications and to maintain consistency across the supply chain, from customs clearance to registration and road use. The net effect is a more rigorous verification process for imported vehicles and clearer expectations for stakeholders involved in parallel import schemes, including dealers, testing laboratories, and regulatory authorities.