industry and Trade Ministry published List of 96 goods for parallel import. The new mechanism starts working on May 6th.
What is Parallel Import?
Parallel import is the legalization of the importation of branded goods sold in other countries into the country without the permission of the copyright holder. Products do not come through an official distributor, but through alternative means.
“Parallel importation does not imply a permit for the import and circulation of counterfeit products in the Russian Federation – the products must be legally circulated in the country of importation,” said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The agency explains that customs authorities will need to verify commodity nomenclature codes and brand names of foreign economic activity by order of the ministry.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that when compiling the list, it was guided by the protection of the interests of domestic consumers of products of foreign companies that left the Russian market under the sanctions imposed by “unfriendly” countries.
Earlier, the head of the ministry, Denis Manturov, said that the department is ready to quickly organize the list of brands that fall under parallel imports, depending on the decision of such companies to work in Russia. According to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, several companies have already expressed their desire to continue working in the Russian Federation and withdraw from the list compiled by the ministry.
Clothing and cosmetics
“Parallel” imports of clothing, hats, shoes, fabrics, fur and leather goods allowed no brand restrictions.
The list includes many cosmetics: perfumes, shampoos, makeup, manicures, etc. However, the list does not include some brands popular in Russia such as Garnier, L’Oreal, Yves Saint Laurent, Maybelline, Kiehl’s, NYX and many other brands’ perfumes and cosmetics, Head and Shoulders and Pantene shampoos, Oral-B and Blend. toothpastes -a-Med etc.
Parallel imports were allowed in the pharmaceutical category, especially in OB and Carefree cotton products.
The import of toys and sports equipment is also allowed.
Automobiles and technology
The list includes some components for cars and spare parts, tires (especially Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone) and almost all Western car brands. Among them: Tesla, Toyota, Land Rover, BMW, Volkswagen, Skoda, Jeep, Subaru, Suzuki, Honda, Isuzu, Jaguar, Chrysler, Bentley, Mitsubishi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hummer, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti and others ( Total more than 50 brands).
The list also includes airport equipment (Thyssenkrupp), railway locomotives, wagons, trams, railways, ships, boats, etc. devices and equipment for
The list also includes smartphone and equipment brands Apple, Samsung, Sony, Asus, HP, Intel, Dell, GoPro, Panasonic, Nokia, LG, Toshiba.
Home appliances from Electrolux, Miele, Siemens, Dyson, Philips were also included in the list. It also included Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo game consoles, musical instruments and components, sound recording and television equipment.
What else is on the list?
It will be possible to import rubber and rubber products, soap, detergent, candles, plasticine, glue, matches, plastics and products made from them, explosives, weapons and even nuclear reactors to Russia.
The list also includes plants (including cut flowers, bulbs, seedlings and trees). Parallel imports are provided for salt, sulphur, soil, ore and ash, as well as various metals such as aluminum, lead and zinc.
Is Russia facing lawsuits?
According to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, parallel imports of foreign goods into Russia are unlikely to encourage Western companies to sue importers. According to him, litigation will cost the firms themselves dearly.
Piper Michael Malloy, representative of the Russian office of the international law firm DLA, states that well-known brands can enter Russia through Belarus and Kazakhstan.
“The purpose of all this [санкций и бойкотов] the exhaustion of the commodity market. But if you deplete one market, a thriving parallel market emerges, ”the expert emphasized.
The Daily Telegraph believes that some companies can turn the situation in their favor by making parallel imports to continue supplying the Russian market unofficially.