In-Depth Analysis of Russia's Technical Regulation on the Safety of Chemical Products (Russia REACH)

On June 3, 2026, the Government of the Russian Federation issued Decree No. 688, officially approving the Technical Regulation on the Safety of Chemical Products. Aligned with the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), this regulation establishes a mandatory regulatory framework for chemicals and mixtures circulating in the Russian market.

1. Key Definitions

• "Chemical product": Main component + stabilizers + process impurities, with a concentration ≥ 80%; separable solvents are not included.
• "Mixture": Two or more chemical substances that do not react with each other, including alloys.
• Other key concepts include: New chemical substances, the Registry, Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC-like), PBT/vPvB, endocrine disruptors, substances with complex or variable composition, polymers/monomers, authorized representatives, importers, applicants, and official/closed information sources.

2. Compliance Logic

Products placed on the Russian market must comply with this regulation and other applicable technical regulations, and must undergo conformity assessment. If a component is not listed in the Registry of Chemical Substances and Mixtures, a notification for a new substance must be submitted according to Articles 76–122 for inclusion in the Registry, unless evidence can be provided that the substance was already circulating in Russia before the regulation came into effect (as per the list in Annex 6), thereby exempting it from notification. Additionally, requirements for lists of restricted and prohibited substances must be met; these lists are jointly formulated and approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Rospotrebnadzor.

3. Identification / Component Identification

The manufacturer, authorized representative, or importer is responsible for identification, including: nomenclature, IUPAC name, CAS/EC numbers, registry number, source and process, and additional identification information for substances with complex or variable compositions. For mixtures, the precise content of each component must be provided to 0.1%; for substances with complex or variable compositions, components ≥ 10% must be listed, along with hazardous components ≥ 0.1% that affect classification. The chemical composition identification for both single substances and mixtures must be completed in a nationally accredited laboratory, with test records issued.

4. Hazard Classification

Classification is conducted by the manufacturer/importer based on GOST 32419-2022, GOST 32423/32424/32425-2013, GOST 12.1.044-2018, GOST 12.1.007-76, etc.

• Physical hazards include: Explosives, flammable gases, aerosols, gases under pressure/liquefied/dissolved, flammable liquids/solids, self-reactive substances, pyrophoric substances, self-heating substances, substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases, oxidizing substances, organic peroxides, corrosive to metals, and desensitized explosives.
• Health hazard indicators: Acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/eye irritation, sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (single/repeated exposure), aspiration hazard, toxicity related to bioaccumulation, PBT, very persistent and very bioaccumulative, endocrine disruption, etc.
• Environmental hazard indicators: Ozone layer depletion, acute/chronic aquatic toxicity, persistence, soil toxicity, bioaccumulation potential/actual bioaccumulation.

5. Labeling and SDS

Labels must contain: product name, name/address/phone of the producer/authorized representative/importer, names of hazardous components, storage conditions and shelf life, executive documents (if any), and warning labels. Labels must be in Russian (bilingual is permitted), clear and durable, remaining legible until the end of use/disposal; if space is insufficient, hang tags or stickers may be attached.

Warning labels must follow GOST 31340-2022 General Requirements for Warning Labels for Chemical Products in Russia, with elements clearly distinguishable from other information.
The SDS is compiled by the manufacturer/authorized representative/importer, based on Registry data, read-across/(Q)SAR,

Article 27 tests, or official information sources; in case of conflicting information, the information indicating a higher degree of hazard shall be adopted. The SDS accompanies the product flow and has no fixed validity period, but must be updated if names/addresses change, if composition changes lead to classification changes, or if new significant information emerges; it must be provided to buyers free of charge.

6. State Registration

Chemicals must undergo conformity assessment before being placed on the market, in the form of state registration, handled by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade as the authorized body.
Registration validity is divided into two categories:

• Indefinite period: All components are in the Registry with a status of "permitted for use," and substances of concern are below thresholds (e.g., Mutagenicity Cat. 2 / Chronic Aquatic Toxicity Cat. 1 ≤ 1%; Carcinogenicity Cat. 1–2, Mutagenicity Cat. 1, Reproductive Toxicity Cat. 1–2, endocrine disruptors, PBT/vPvB ≤ 0.1%).
• 5 years: Contains restricted substances but below limits, or notified based on Section I information of the SDS, or contains substances of concern above thresholds.
  Applications are submitted electronically via a unified portal/information system, including the application form, copies of executive documents, SDS, complete component information (for the closed part of the Registry), supporting non-public source data, contracts with foreign parties, production/import volumes for the last 3 years or plans for the next year, and test records for single substance components; foreign language documents must be translated into Russian and certified. The authorized body reviews within 14 working days, which may be suspended for corrections; the deadline for correction responses is generally no more than 10 working days, after which rejection may occur. Upon approval, a registration number and QR code are assigned, and the applicant is notified.

7. Subsequent Obligations

Changes in name/address or composition leading to classification changes, or the emergence of new information affecting hazard determination, require updating the SDS/re-registration. SDS changes that do not affect classification do not require re-registration, but the new version must be submitted within 20 working days; the authority verifies within 11 working days whether classification changes are needed; if classification changes are indeed required, re-registration is necessary. If subsequent list updates cause a product originally with "indefinite period" registration to fall into the 5-year category, the authority notifies the applicant to convert to a 5-year registration within 90 working days, otherwise the original registration becomes invalid; conversely, one may apply to change from 5 years to indefinite. Actual production/sales volumes for the previous year and plans for the next year must be reported by the 25th of the month following registration annually. If monomers in a polymer are not in the Registry, the monomers must be notified first before registering the polymer.

8. New Substance Notification

Handled by Rospotrebnadzor. The standard review period for notifications is 5 working days after complete materials are received; a direct-to-Registry channel exempt from notification applies to substances already circulating in Russia before the regulation came into effect, with evidence from Annex 6. The notification body may forward complete files to designated evaluation institutions within 2 working days; the evaluation institution issues an expert conclusion on compliance with the regulation and recommended applicable status within 10 working days; if materials are incomplete/inconsistent, corrections are requested within 7 working days, forwarded to the applicant by the notification body within 1 working day.

9. Implementation Arrangements

According to the decree, this technical regulation will come into effect 6 months after its official publication, but no earlier than September 1, 2027, with a validity period of 6 years. Registration timelines will take effect in five phases based on product type and annual circulation volume. Requirements for warning labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) will be uniformly implemented starting September 1, 2028.

Impact on Enterprises

The regulatory approach of this regulation is highly similar to the EU REACH, and it is expected to have a profound impact on downstream industries such as chemicals, coatings, daily chemicals, electronics, and textiles. Since both registration and notification require the submission of component information, experimental data, and Russian-language documents, RUIXI Group recommends that relevant enterprises conduct substance screening as soon as possible, verify whether components are in the Registry, assess risks associated with restricted substances and substances of high concern, and work backward from the corresponding deadlines based on their tonnage to establish a compliance timeline.

Further information

Gov.