A brief overview of state standards
State standards (GOSTs) have been in force in Russia since Soviet times and define uniform requirements for goods and services.
Modern standards are marked with the abbreviation GOST R and are established by the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart).
    GOSTs are applied in a wide variety of industries, and businesses use them to increase consumer confidence in their products.
To obtain the GOST mark, a batch of goods must be sent for certification to an accredited centre and undergo expert examination.

What is GOST?
It is a state standard that specifies requirements for product quality. The first GOST standards were introduced in the USSR, and this system continues to operate today. If the product specifications indicate that it is manufactured in accordance with GOST, it means that it meets all the criteria for this product category at the state level.
GOST and GOST R compliance mark
The old standards left over from the USSR are marked with the abbreviation GOST, while the new ones can be distinguished by the abbreviation GOST R. Their list was approved in 1992 and is now periodically updated. The old standards were common to all Soviet republics and are still used in the CIS countries, while the new standards are used only in Russia. Another difference from the previous system is that GOST R standards are divided into mandatory and voluntary. In total, there are more than 40,000 standards in force in Russia.

To decipher GOST, pay attention to the numbers in its name. The first numbers indicate the registration number, and the second numbers indicate the year the standard was adopted. For example, GOST 27353–89 will have the number 27353 and the year 1989. In modern GOST R, the year is written in full. See the national standards classifier for a complete list of standards.

GOST is not a law, but it also has legal force throughout the country. The application of the standard is voluntary, unless the laws themselves indicate otherwise. If a manufacturer claims that its products comply with GOST requirements, but in reality this is not the case, it faces a fine. An individual entrepreneur will be fined between 10,000 and 20,000 roubles, a small enterprise between 50,000 and 150,000 roubles, and large and medium-sized companies between 100,000 and 300,000 roubles.

Why are GOST standards necessary?

The GOST mark on products is a distinctive sign for buyers and partners, confirming that the goods meet uniform requirements. For example, in the case of ice cream, this means that the product contains the required amount of milk and has a limited content of flavour additives. As a rule, brands that produce such goods enjoy greater trust and loyalty from buyers.

Other characteristics of the product (colour, material, pattern) are indicated by their article number. This is a code that allows the product to be identified. More details on this are provided in the article ‘How to come up with an article number and assign it to a product’.

Mandatory and voluntary GOST standards

The majority of GOST standards are voluntary, meaning that manufacturers can decide whether or not to apply them. However, compliance with certain standards is required by law. Certain GOST standards are mandatory for the construction of buildings and other structures, for example, GOST 27751–2014 ‘Reliability of building structures and foundations’. Violation of mandatory standards is equivalent to non-compliance with the law and entails the same legal consequences.

Who sets GOST standards and how

New GOST standards are introduced by Rosstandart, which has special technical committees. The development of standards is regulated by GOST R 1.2−2020. The creation of new standards takes place in several stages. First, the initiative is included in the state standardisation programme: a new GOST standard can only be adopted if its subject matter corresponds to the programme, which is approved annually, and the subject matter coincides with the expertise of one of the existing technical committees.

Both individuals (experts from various fields) and legal entities (companies, authorised bodies and scientific communities) can participate in the development of GOST standards. For example, to create a GOST for low-calorie ice cream, you can turn to experts from the relevant association, Soyuzmoloko, and to set standards for toys, you can turn to child psychologists and educators.

A contract is signed with the customer, setting out rights and obligations. An application for the development of a new standard is sent to the technical committee, and then a responsible subcommittee is assigned to it and a working group is formed.

When creating a GOST standard, the results of patent analyses, international norms and recommendations, similar standards of other countries, as well as scientific research data are taken into account.

The document may undergo several revisions. First, committee members, departments, and other interested parties and bodies prepare reasoned reviews and comments. Then, the developers make amendments taking into account all comments and submit new versions for discussion until final approval. The final version is submitted together with an explanatory note on the amendments made.

The final GOST is approved by Rosstandart. It also issues an order specifying the date on which the standard comes into force.

How GOST differs from other standards

In addition to GOST standards, technical specifications (TU) are also applied in the manufacture of goods. Unlike state standards, these specifications are valid within a specific enterprise. TU are developed by the manufacturer itself, but they must not contradict GOST standards.

There are also industry standards (OST), which work in the same way as state-level standards, but only apply to one area of industry. GOSTs are primary documents, while OSTs are secondary acts that are consistent with their provisions. For example, there is GOST 24950-81 for main pipeline branches, and within it there is OST 36-21-77 for specific pipelines.

How to choose and implement GOST standards for your business

First, determine which category your products fall under and find a regional certification centre in the official Rosstandart register. Each centre's website has contact numbers and forms that you can use to contact experts and request an inspection. Certification is subject to a fee; check the prices directly with the selected centre, usually it costs from 10,000 to 15,000 roubles.
Prepare the following documents:

an application for certification in the prescribed form with details;
registration certificates (OGRN, INN);
    a supply contract, if you sell imported products;
available technical specifications, GOST standards for components, research reports and protocols, product passports and other technical documentation;
equipment passports, design documentation;
label mock-up, if available;
additional documents upon request.

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