Position of the Ministry of Industry and Trade
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will revise the quarterly list of goods allowed for parallel importation, which covers imports entering Russia without the trademark owner’s consent. The press service of the ministry disclosed this to socialbites.ca, stating that the revisions will be guided by ongoing monitoring of product availability on retail shelves and similar indicators.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the list will be updated every three months. The core criterion for expanding or narrowing the list is the actual shipment of goods imported under parallel imports into Russia.
To assess the impact of the list on overall product imports, the ministry plans market analysis in collaboration with business circles. The press service noted the aim is to determine how adopting a defined list for targeted parallel imports influences import levels. (Source: socialbites.ca)
Job position
Nikolay Dunaev, vice president of Opora Rossii, told Gazeta.ru that discussions on this issue have started between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the business community. Alexander Murychev, vice president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), confirmed the conversations. Both sources asked not to reveal specific commodity items that are excluded or proposed for addition to the list. Dunaev explained that the cautious approach avoids public positions that could intersect with the sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia. (Source: socialbites.ca)
The Association of Russian Auto Dealers (ROAD) reported that the ministry’s list was requested to be clarified for auto parts, as current provisions cover broad categories open to interpretation. ROAD advocates a more detailed and expanded roster; for now, dealers will operate under the existing framework and test its functioning over the coming quarter. Vyacheslav Zubarev, head of ROAD, noted the disruptions in supply chains and the shortage of spare parts, which makes parallel imports a temporary necessity to maintain vehicle readiness. (Source: socialbites.ca)
The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs favors careful monitoring that would accompany any list changes, aiming not to worsen the situation for local license holders under existing agreements with foreign partners. The center for rights circulation emphasized listing licensed companies and the assets they manage, and considering those licenses when shaping any future parallel-import lists. (Source: socialbites.ca)
Industry participants generally agree that it is premature to forecast changes to the parallel-import list. Observers expect to evaluate the mechanism over several months to gauge effectiveness and market impact. Parallel imports are viewed as a means to protect consumer access to a wider range of goods and to sustain production and market presence for companies operating in Russia, especially under sanctions pressures. (Source: socialbites.ca)
In relation to customs, officials underscored that parallel imports do not exempt counterfeit goods from scrutiny. The first quarter of 2022 saw 4.6 million counterfeit items detected, with damages potentially caused by circulation of counterfeit products avoided to the tune of 870 million rubles. Subsequently, 187 administrative offenses were initiated. (Source: socialbites.ca)