Recent Developments In Russian Consumer Protection Law

1. NEW "HONEST MARK" LABELLING SYSTEM

Starting from 2019, certain consumer products (tobacco, shoes, perfume, leather clothes, coats, blouses for women and girls, bed and table linens and cameras) must be marked with specific labels containing a QR code. Such labels must contain the information required under the general rules but will be more difficult to counterfeit. The non-official name of the new labelling system is the "honest mark", as its main goal is to prevent the sale of counterfeit products.

QR codes will be generated for each product by the Centre of Prospering Initiatives, a commercial organisation which is authorised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry for this purpose. QR codes will be sold to sellers for a fee (the amount and calculation of such a fee will be determined by the government at a later stage), while the software and hardware required for labelling and reading the QR codes will be provided free of charge.