Russia

Russia: Adopted revised maximum allowable concentrations for polluting substances in the ambient air of residential areas

As of 20 January 2018, organisations emitting polluting substances in the ambient air must ensure that their emissions do not cause the concentrations of such substances to exceed the set concentration limits in the adjoining urban and countryside residential areas.

The maximum allowable concentrations have been set for around 700 polluting substances, such as NOx, SOx, ammonia, acetaldehyde, barium, benz(a)pyrene, benzene, etc.

Russia: Tobacco products to be marked with the means of identification

From 15 January until 31 December 2018 manufacturers and importers of tobacco products have an opportunity to participate (on a voluntary basis) in the pilot project involving marking of tobacco products with identification marks.

The purpose of such an identification is to:

Ensure authenticity of tobacco products;

Russia: How to calculate and report the environmental charges for 2017 within the EPR framework

Manufacturers and importers of products subject to recycling targets (i.e. those subject to the extended producer responsibility) must pay the environmental charge for 2017 before 15 April 2018, if they are required to pay such a charge.

Operators subject to the environmental charge payment are required to submit to the authorities, before 1 April of the year following the relevant reporting year the following documents:

Russia: Content of trans isomers in food must not exceed 2% of the total fat content

As of 1 January 2018, manufacturers and importers of solid, soft and liquid margarines, milk fat substitutes and special fats must not exceed 2% from the total fat content. This requirement comes from the EAEU Technical Regulation on Milk and Fat Products, TR TS 024/2011. All products manufactured before 1 January 2018 and containing over 2% of trans isomers may remain on the market until their normal expiry dates.

Russia: Draft law to regulate organic food production

If adopted, the draft law would set out regulatory framework and main requirements applicable to organic food manufacturers.

In particular, it would require that such manufacturers producing organic food restrict the use of pesticides, agrochemicals, antibiotics, growth stimulators and hormonal preparations in raw materials and production process.

Russia: Administrative liability for non-fulfilment of extended producer responsibility

Importers and manufactured of certain product categories are required to organise recycling of wastes resulting from the use or consumption of such products, in accordance with the recycling targets set by the Government of the Russian Federation. The obligation of operators (importers and manufacturers) is considered to be fulfilled from either the moment of submitting a report on the fulfilment of the set recycling targets or from the moment they have paid the required environmental charge.

Russia: Installing GLONASS navigation on vehicles transporting dangerous goods

As of 15 April 2018, owners of transport vehicles used for dangerous goods transportation are required to use the revised procedure for the installation of GLONASS navigation system on such vehicles. The requirement to install GLONASS navigation on vehicles transporting dangerous goods has existed before and is not a new one.

Russia: Is your garage considered a source of environmental pollution?

One of the frequently asked questions is whether garages or open parking lots used only for parking (storage) as well as for entry and exit of vehicles are considered “sources of environmental pollution”. The reason for such a question is that operators of all environmental pollution sources are required to have them registered with the environmental authorities (Article 69.2 of the Federal Law on Environmental Protection No. 7-FZ dated 10 January 2002). 

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