General Director of the logistics company "VSN-TRANSIT" Natalia Rudkovskaya at the March exhibition "Obuv. Mir Kozhi ”shared her experience of customs clearance of goods for those companies that want to avoid mistakes in deliveries to Russia. What should you pay attention to when delivering to Russia?
Any delivery should include three components.
1. Product certification (relevant only for children's shoes).
2. Customs Clearance Rules.
3. Necessary documents from the supplier and requirements for them.
Obtaining Certificates
Before entering the Russian market, your product must be certified in the country by special certification bodies. It is necessary to obtain two certificates: a sanitary-epidemiological certificate (SEZ), for a period of 5 years, and a certificate of conformity ROSTEST, for a period of one or three years. There are several types of certificates: for a batch of goods up to 10 pcs., For a contract or a Russian company-buyer, as well as for a manufacturer of goods.
Contract certificate
The contract certificate is valid for the duration of the contract. It is declared by a Russian company that provides samples of goods for testing, constituent documents and a certificate for trade, certifying it with its seal. If the supplier sold a similar product to another Russian buyer, then the latter, in turn, must receive the same certificate, passing the same tests and paying the same duties. Only this buyer has the right to import this product under this certificate and carry out customs clearance. How many buyers the factory has - how many certificates will have to be obtained.
Manufacturer Certificate
The certificate for the manufacturer is more convenient for trade and customs clearance. The supplier can choose any representative, even a private person, to provide him with a power of attorney from the factory (manufacturer, seller) for the right to receive a certificate of conformity and a sanitary-epidemiological certificate, a declaration (letter about the manufacturer), a business registration document for the manufacturing country, samples goods. All documents must be in Russian and English and certified by the manufacturer's seals. The requirements for issuing a certificate for a manufacturer are stricter than when issuing a certificate for a contract; the fee is two times higher (about $ 1000 for SEZ and $ 700 – 800 for a certificate of conformity with ROSTEST). But a certificate for a manufacturer can be presented by any buyer of this product, just as any seller of the same product can use it for trade in Russia. Samples of goods cannot be sent by mail and taken with some delivery (in this case, they may require a certificate). Usually they are brought in privately and submitted to certification bodies.
A certificate is made for each group of goods and for the composition of the goods. You can combine only identical goods belonging to the same HS code and the same composition.
If the product is not subject to certification, a refusal letter will be issued (the cost is $ 400 – 500).
In connection with the new law “On Certification” for a number of goods, compulsory certification has been canceled, it’s enough for the supplier to fill out a quality declaration, but at the moment this does not simplify the registration process.
Features of customs clearance of goods
In Russia, for each product code (HS code combines goods by groups and characteristics), there is its own customs duty rate (percentage of the value of the goods) and value-added tax (VAT). When determining the rate, the cost of the invoice and the cost of delivery to the border of the Russian Federation are taken into account. If the euro delivery is prescribed in the fee, then the payment is taken from a larger amount. When supplying shoes, one of the main problems is the determination of the HS code. There are a lot of nuances depending on the composition and materials from which this shoe is made.
It is necessary to remember the main thing: everything that is in the container should be declared. Any undeclared goods (including printed catalogs, leaflets, booklets, additional packaging, plastic bags, spare cardboard boxes, etc.) will be confiscated, and a fine will be charged for violation of customs legislation and an administrative or criminal case will be opened. For everything that is stated in the invoice (even if it is an advertising product, packaging - everything that is distributed free of charge), the recipient must pay a fee in any case. Duty is not subject only to humanitarian assistance.
In addition to duties, the customs clearance system provides for a system of risks for goods and countries, including the cost of imported goods. It often happens that the value recommended by customs is higher than the real value of the goods. In this case, the customs inspector has the right to request a set of additional documents: export declaration of the sending country, price list of the manufacturer or seller of the goods, certified by the CCI of the sending country (sample), proforma invoice (order of goods).
Basic documents for goods clearance:
- foreign trade contract (in two languages) with applications and additions;
- invoice (in the language of the sender or in English);
- packing list (in the language of the sender or in English);
- product specification (in Russian or in two languages, English / Russian);
- transport invoice (bill of lading for sea transportation or TIR, CMR for road transportation);
- an invoice for the transport of goods (broken down to the border of Russia);
- certificate of origin of form “A”.
All documents must strictly correspond to each other in weight, quantity and cost of goods. Otherwise, the customs inspector has the right to raise the value of the goods and take an increased duty.
Another design feature is the inspection of goods. An inspector may inspect any vehicle, any consignment. If it is a container or a machine with different article numbers of models, it is necessary to put one box with each article at the door (in order not to unload the container or the machine, any loading and unloading can damage both the packaging and the goods themselves).
If the inspector finds a discrepancy in the documents, he draws up an act of violation or unlawful declaration of goods, which will delay this cargo for up to three months (the period of formal procedures for the violation). And this entails the payment of downtime during loading and unloading of goods. These are very large expenses (sometimes they can amount to the invoice cost of a consignment), therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses, it is necessary to carefully draw up documents.
Particular attention is required and the declared weight of the goods. The customs duty is calculated from the net weight, but if the goods do not match the declared net or gross weight, it can be confiscated in favor of the state with the institution of an administrative or criminal offense, and the supplier will pay a heavy fine. The declared weight of the goods must correspond to the real!
Additional document requirements
The price list must contain the following information (in accordance with the order of the FCS): name and address of the manufacturer, delivery conditions, date of issue (time until the invoice proforma is placed), validity date, full range of the manufacturer (error if the price list is issued only for the ordered product), payment terms, discount system, the mention that the marking and trademark are made by order of the buyer.
The price list should not be targeted - this is only a public offer, and nothing more.
The packing list should contain information on the quantity of goods, packaging, labeling, trademark, as well as a description of the goods, gross and net weights, legal addresses of the buyer and seller, a link to the contract, date of issue of the packing list, number and conditions of shipment.
The invoice must indicate: product name, description, brand, unit price, total price for this item, total price for a consignment, reference to the contract, delivery conditions, payment terms, bank details that will be paid (in strict according to the bank details of the contract), name and legal address of the buyer and seller, date of issue, number.
The name of the supplier and recipient in the contract, invoice, packing list, specification, export declaration, certificate of form “A”, bill of lading must be the same.
The weights and amounts in all accompanying documents must be the same.
Product labels and stickers must strictly comply with the buyer's order and must be reflected in the accompanying documents.
The marking on the packaging and product must comply with Russian trade laws and delivery conditions. The manufacturer receives this information from the buyer.
If the supplier made a mistake in the documents, he must urgently inform the customer in a letter. And it’s best to give all the documents to the customer before sending to avoid errors and unnecessary expenses.
For your information:
Deliveries to Russia. Instruction manual
1. For all goods imported into Russia (before it arrives in the country), it is necessary to obtain certificates of conformity or letters of refusal. Some spare parts (if supplied) require certificates.
2. All free, advertising, packaging samples and attachments must be declared for customs clearance.
3. The main set of documents from the supplier: foreign trade contract; price list of the manufacturer (seller), ordinary and certified by the CCI of the country of manufacture; proforma invoice to order; invoice packing list; specification; certificate of origin (form “A”); bill of lading (when paying for delivery, the supplier provides a transport invoice or the amount of transport costs is recorded in the invoice); export declaration (it is advisable to assure its authenticity in the CCI of the sending country).
4. All documents must contain the same information about the sender, weight, cost and quantity of goods.
5. The price list from the supplier should be an open offer.
6. At the door of the container or vehicle, you must put one box with each article of goods. When ordering goods of the same type and article, but in different colors - one box of each color.
7. Marking of goods should be reflected in the accompanying documents and agreed with the buyer.
8. For any goods not declared by the seller and for a weight mismatch, the buyer bears material and administrative criminal liability.
| Please rate the article |
The 37th Euro Shoes Premiere Collection exhibition concluded successfully in Moscow.
From March 4th to 7th, the International Euro Shoes Premiere Collection exhibition took place at the WTC Congress Center in Moscow. It is a specialized B2B event for footwear industry and fashion retail professionals and the key industry event of the new purchasing season and selection development for fashion retailers. Approximately 100 companies and brands participated in the exhibition, presenting their Fall/Winter 2026/27 footwear, bag, and accessory collections to professional visitors.
Needs Identification Techniques That Really Work in Shoe Stores
"How can I help you?" is the most common, yet least effective, question in shoe retail. Customers rarely articulate their needs clearly. Some are shy, while others don't fully understand what they're looking for. Therefore, a salesperson's job isn't simply to suggest styles; they need to be able to identify the customer's true desires. In this article, SR expert Maria Gerasimenko and I explore five techniques that will help your staff better hear, see, and understand your customers, and therefore sell more and better.
Revisiting classic standards of retail lighting through the lens of modern technology
Just yesterday, the principle governing retail lighting was: the brighter the light, the brighter the store, the more customers and sales. Today, this principle has lost its relevance. It has been replaced by a trend toward a well-thought-out concept, intelligently applied lighting, and carefully selected lighting fixtures. Anastasia Efremova, SR's expert in retail lighting and lighting designer at Tochka Opory, discusses current lighting principles in fashion and footwear retail, and how light helps interact with merchandise, space, and customer emotions. She will help you understand the fundamental principles of lighting through the lens of new retail space requirements.
Spring/Summer 2026: Five Trends for Athletic Shoes
In a highly competitive environment, especially in the dynamic digital environment, fashion trends are changing rapidly. We're highlighting five trends from international trend bureau Future Snoops that address local market demands.
Where can you find reliable shoe manufacturing in Russia today?
The market is changing, but the key question for buyers and brands remains: where can you find real Russian manufacturing that you can work with directly—without complicated processes, surprises, and wasted time? On February 12, 2026, this question will be answered not with presentations, but with practice: the Izmailovo Hotel, Beta Building, will host the 2nd All-Russian Technology Industry Conference "Footwear Manufacturing in Russia"—a meeting of footwear manufacturers and those who order, sell, and develop their brands.
Tamaris SS26 Collection
In its Spring-Summer 2026 collection, Tamaris combines tradition, innovation, and the latest fashion trends.
MARCO TOZZI announced the launch of the new MT Sport collection.
German footwear brand MARCO TOZZI has announced the launch of its new men's footwear collection, MT Sport. MT Sport is a new collection of men's footwear in a sporty, casual style. It will be available in partner stores this spring.
Euro Shoes opens a new season for buyers and brands
In the first days of spring, from March 4–7, the international footwear and accessories exhibition Euro Shoes Premiere Collection in Moscow will once again gather buyers and other industry professionals to discover the collections of global footwear brands for the upcoming Fall-Winter 26–27 season.
Chinese brands and factories at Euro Shoes
The Russian economy's pivot toward Asia and the active development of the footwear industry and the technological base for producing a wide range of footwear in China are opening up new prospects for cooperation with Chinese partners.
The home collection from Australian brand EMU Australia at Euro Shoes
SOHO Fashion invites you to discover the new Fall/Winter 26 collection of Australian footwear brand EMU Australia at the Euro Shoes Premiere Collection international exhibition in Moscow.
Rieker and Remonte with new collections - at Euro Shoes
Rieker is well-known and beloved in Russia. Each pair of Rieker shoes is designed with the anatomy of the foot in mind, using Rieker's signature Antistress technology to ensure maximum comfort.
Just a month until the Euro Shoes exhibition in Moscow!
We are counting down the days for the main international exhibition of footwear and accessories Euro Shoes Premiere Collection in Moscow! The exhibition will be held from August 27 to 30 at a new premium venue – the capital's congress center WTC on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment.
Salvatore Ferragamo's Shoes Inspire Pastry Chefs
Italian confectioners have created cakes that are exact copies of six legendary pairs of shoes from the archives of the Italian "Shoemaker to the Stars" maestro Salvatore Ferragamo. They were presented in the 10_11 restaurant of the Milan hotel Portrait Milano, which is part of the hotel management company owned by the Ferragamo family.
Main trend themes for footwear and bags collections for the fall-winter 2025/26 season
Whatever aesthetics your collection adheres to - craft heritage, elegant minimalism inspired by traditions or, conversely, futuristic forms - if your customer strives to be fashionable and you need to regularly update your assortment with current trendy novelties, pay attention to the design trends, models and details of women's shoes and bags in the fall-winter 2025/26 season described in this article. To prepare it, the author used materials from the international trend bureau Fashion Snoops, which is a source of commercial forecasts for the seasons ahead, and current trend analytics of key events in the fashion industry around the world: industry exhibitions, shows, shows.
The Battle for the Sports Shoe Market
Fashion market experts and economic analysts predict a decline in sales of Nike and Adidas. The leadership positions of the unsinkable sports giants may be seriously shaken in the coming years, as they are being pushed out by young, bold and active competitors – challenger brands.
Micam and Livetrend presented a selection of footwear trends for the spring-summer 2026 season
The Italian international footwear fair Micam presents the "Spring-Summer 2026 Trend Guide", developed in collaboration with Livetrend. The guide is based on the analysis of social networks, online marketplaces and fashion shows, as well as new technologies such as artificial intelligence and Big Data.
How Pareto's Law Works in a Shoe Retail Store
Analysis of the company's performance is an important quality of a manager. Many indicators in the retail business are subject to analysis, primarily - sales planning and inventory balances, KPI performance by employees, the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, the number of sellers, their work schedules and many other factors that affect the final result of the store. In this material, SR expert on increasing sales in shoe retail Evgeny Danchev, using the Pareto principle, understands the reasons why revenue and volumes of goods sold are distributed very unevenly between weekdays and weekends. The author is confident that the Pareto principle is indispensable in the systemic analysis of sales management efficiency and sales results. But it is important to apply it correctly and interpret its meaning.
Clarks: 200 years of quality, style and innovation
In 2025, the legendary British brand Clarks celebrates its 200th anniversary – an impressive milestone that demonstrates its enduring relevance, impeccable quality and global appeal.
PETER KAISER - the best brand of 2025!
"CAPRICE Schuhproduktion GmbH has received a certificate for awarding PETER KAISER the title of "Top Brand 2025".
Turn to Asia. Features of shoe production at a factory in China
Finding a partner factory for shoe production is not an easy process. Today, many Russian brands sew their collections in factories in China. The concept of the women's shoe brand N.early N.aked, founded in 2019, was based on the idea of producing shoes suitable for dancing, with a perfect fit. Initially, the shoes were sewn in Europe, but in 2022, shoe production was moved to China.
How to Compete with Marketplaces in 2025
The shoe business is a complex process due to the many related micro-strategies used to extract profit. It is necessary to determine how much goods to purchase, what trade margin to set, and approve the norm of balances at the end of the season. In addition, it is necessary to draw up a sales plan and decide on marketing campaigns that take into account seasonal demand and the competitive environment, set up a personnel motivation system and correctly set control points.
Shoe educational program: what shoe soles are made of
“What is the difference between TEP and EVA? What does tunit promise me? Is PVC glue? What is the sole of these shoes made of? ”- the modern buyer wants to know everything. In order not to smash his face in front of him and be able to explain whether such a sole suits him in soles, carefully read this article. In it, process engineer Igor Okorokov tells what materials the soles of shoes are made of and what makes each of them so good.
How to set prices that will earn
Some businessmen still confuse the concept of margin with the concept of trade margins and set prices for their goods, guided solely by the example of competitors. No wonder they go broke! Analyst at the Academy of Retail Technologies Maxim Gorshkov gives several tips and formulas with which you can set not only ruinous, but also profitable prices.
Sales of shoes and accessories: effective techniques for business rhetoric
Which speech modules are effective in communicating with potential and current customers of shoe stores, and which are not, Anna Bocharova, a business consultant, knows.
We form the salary of sellers: expert advice
“How do you charge your consultants for personal or general sales?” Is one of the most popular questions causing a lot of controversy and gossip on the online forums of retail business owners. Indeed, how to properly form the earnings of sellers? But what about bonuses, where to get a sales plan from, do employees allow them to buy goods at discounted stores? In search of truth, the Shoes Report turned to a dozen shoe retailers, but no company wanted to disclose its motivation system - the process of its development was too complicated and individual. Then we asked four business consultants, and finally became convinced that the topic of seller motivation is very complex, because even our experts could not come to a common opinion.
The whole truth about Bayer. Who is he and how to become one?
Bayer is no longer a new, but still a popular and sought-after profession. It’s fashionable to be a buyer. Buyers are at the origins of the emergence and development of trends. If the designer offers his vision of fashion in the season, then the buyer selects the most interesting commercial ideas. It is on buyers that the policy of sales of stores and what, in the end, the buyer will wear depends on. This profession is surrounded by a magical fleur, often associated with a lack of understanding of what exactly is the work of a buyer.
Technology Selling Issues
There is nothing worse than meeting the buyer with the words “Hello, can I help you with something?”, Because the seller works in the store just to help. Criticizing this well-established pattern of communication with the buyer, Andrei Chirkarev, business coach for effective sales and the founder of the New Economy project, shares the technology of truly selling issues with readers of Shoes Report.
Fur, and not only: types of lining
In the production of winter footwear, various materials are used that are designed to retain heat and meet the requirements of consumers: natural sheepleather, artificial fur, artificial fur from natural wool and others. All types of lining fur have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider the properties of each of them.
Retail Arithmetic
Before you begin to solve specific problems, you need to find out how accurately all the leaders of your company understand the basic terminology of retail.
How to fire a worker without tears, scandal and trial
Sooner or later, any manager is faced with the need to part with an employee. Correctly and on time the dismissal procedure will save the company money, and the boss himself - nerves and time. But why sometimes, knowing that a break in relations is inevitable, we postpone the decision for months?