Information on the Importation of Media Equipment into the Russian Federation

Under Article 81 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter referred to as the CC EAEU), customs clearance shall be completed as a matter of priority when media equipment is imported to/exported from the Eurasian Economic Union.

Goods imported as media equipment may be declared using the following documents:

1. Customs Declaration (CD).

• A CD is provided to the customs authorities under customs procedures, except for the transit customs procedure.
• The Customs Declaration Form and the relevant instructions were approved by Ruling of the EACU Commission No. 257 of May 20, 2010.

2. АТА Carnet.

• The Russian Federation has acceded to the Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods signed on December 6, 1961 and to the Convention on the Temporary Admission agreed on June 26, 1990 and adopted a number of Annexes thereto.
• The temporary importation into/re-exportation from the Russian Federation is possible for this category of goods with an ATA Carnet¹.

3. Written undertaking to re-export and a list of the relevant media equipment.

• The Russian Federation has acceded to the Convention on the Temporary Admission agreed on June 26, 1990 and adopted Annex B.2 thereto.
• According to Annex B.2 to the Convention, the temporary admission may be granted for radio and television production and broadcasting equipment and specially adapted radio or television vans (hereinafter referred to as the Equipment).
• The customs authorities may demand a list or detailed inventory of the Equipment together with a written undertaking to re-export it.

4. List of Goods².

• Transport, commercial and/or other documents may be used as a CD, subject to the provision of a List of Goods.
• With the List of Goods, individuals may apply for the customs procedure of temporary importation/admission of goods intended for holding or broadcasting formal and other events that are declared for customs procedures of temporary importation/admission or temporary exportation for a period of up to one year to the extent that such goods are granted a total conditional relief from customs duties and taxes.
• For reference: See the list of the accredited foreign media on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• The list of registered Russian media is published on the website of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor).
• The rules of accreditation and stay for journalists from foreign mass media in the Russian Federation are approved by Ruling of the Government of the Russian Federation of 13.09.1994 No.1055 and are enforced in accordance with the CC EAEU and new terms and definitions.

5. Passenger Customs Declaration (PCD).

• PCDs may be filed by journalists, both Russian and foreign, accredited with the EAEU Member States to participate in formal international sports, cultural, research, educational and other similar events held in the EAEU Member States, in relation to goods used in their professional activities other than entrepreneurial activities and imported in whatever manner by and/or for the above persons.
• The Passenger Customs Declaration Form and the relevant instructions were approved by Decision No. 287 of the EACU Commission dated June 18, 2010.

• Additionally, please note that, where media equipment is declared using CD, an ATA Carnet, an Undertaking, or a List of Goods, it shall be subject to prohibitions and restrictions.
• The authorization-based procedure for the importation into the EAEU customs territory is set forth for certain categories of goods by Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 30 On Non-Tariff Regulation dated April 21, 2015³.