What is often called “chipping” in Russia is officially Chestny Znak (Честный ЗНАК) — the Russian Federation’s mandatory digital product labelling system. Nothing physical is actually chipped: each product unit is printed with a unique DataMatrix code and tracked with it from production to final sale. 2026 is another critical year in which the scope widens.
New products entering scope in 2026
Under the official regulation, a new wave of mandatory labelling in light industry begins on 1 March 2026. The main categories entering scope this time are:
- Special and occupational protective clothing
- Hard hats and protective helmets
- Life jackets and safety harnesses
- Leather belts
- Fire-resistant and rubber work gloves for construction workers, firefighters and rescue teams
This is considered the fourth expansion wave of mandatory labelling in light industry. The purpose is the same: making products traceable at every stage from production and import through to the consumer, and fighting counterfeits.
The dates you cannot miss
- 1 March 2026: registration and labelling begin for the new categories.
- 1 August 2026: selling unlabelled light-industry stock in Russia is banned outright.
These dates matter especially to companies planning seasonal production and shipments. The electronic signature, system registration and GTIN description can each take weeks, so preparation has to start now.
Who is affected?
The rules reach a wide group:
- Manufacturers and companies exporting to Russia — products in scope cannot be shipped unlabelled.
- Label and code printing companies — correct DataMatrix grade and print infrastructure are critical.
- Logistics, customs and consulting firms serving companies that trade with Russia.
- Every exporter looking for Chestny Znak advice and wanting to run the process correctly and on time.
What you should do
- Check the scope: establish whether your product enters the 2026 scope under its customs code.
- Register: complete registration and the electronic signature on the CRPT / Chestny Znak platform.
- Codes and labelling: produce DataMatrix codes print-ready at the correct quality and apply them. At volume, our bulk labelling and code management solutions make this straightforward.
- Reporting: file production, import and transfer reports in full.
Run the whole process through one partner
With the experience of Global Znak Consulting, we manage your entire Russian labelling process from our offices in Moscow, Istanbul and Podgorica. As an established, verifiable RTİB-member partner, we make sure the new 2026 categories do not leave you with surprises at the border.
Book a free initial consultation to find out whether your product enters the 2026 scope.
