Parallel import of goods is a legal method of importing original products into the country without the approval of the right holder or manufacturer, carried out along with the main supplies from official distributors. In Russia, this method was actively used in the 1990s and early 2000s, but was abandoned in 2002 in order to attract foreign investors and increase the attractiveness of the market for large manufacturers. However, in 2022, amid sanctions, the Russian Federation legalized parallel imports of sanctioned goods without the consent of the right holders. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, after the legalization of parallel imports in 2022, their volumes continue to grow steadily.
APRIORIKA offers services for the delivery of sanctioned goods from Europe and the USA via a third country - the UAE, complying with all laws and trade rules.
Legalization of parallel imports helps to fill the shortage of popular goods that are unavailable due to sanctions. In addition, legal imports solve other problems.
Constrains price increases. Competition between suppliers prevents overpricing due to monopoly in the market.
The volume of imported goods is determined solely by demand.
Companies whose businesses are critically dependent on foreign supplies can obtain the necessary products bypassing sanctions.
The list of goods permitted to be supplied to the Russian Federation through parallel imports is established by the State and is periodically updated. Updated information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, where products are classified according to three main criteria.
Goods allowed to be entered without restriction and without specifying specific brands.
Products in certain categories with brand-specific exemptions.
Product categories within which parallel imports are allowed only for specific brands, such as automobiles and auto parts.
It is allowed to import goods, supplies of which are limited or terminated. For example, the list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation includes 96 items of goods: game consoles, cars, cosmetics, detergents, electronics, household appliances, perfumes, medicines, clothing and footwear, and equipment. However, not everything can be freely imported. Official documents prescribe the HS codes and/or brands of the right holders to which each product belongs. Exceptions are also specified - brands, the import of which is prohibited. The list may change depending on the decision of the right holders to restore regular supplies.
Shipments are cleared through the standard procedure at the border crossing. Necessary labeling should be provided wherever required.
Providing documentation of goods.
Submission of a customs declaration.
Payment of VAT, duties and customs fees depending on the category of goods and their HS code.
Providing documentation of goods.
Compliance with restrictions and prohibitions, including non-tariff and technical regulations, sanitary and veterinary requirements, radiation standards and other regulatory rules.
To ensure safe delivery of sanctioned goods, it is necessary to make sure that the products are included in the list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, obtain the relevant quality documentation, confirm the authenticity of the goods and their legality in the foreign market. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the goods being recognized as counterfeit, confiscation and subject the supplier to criminal or administrative liability.
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