The whole truth about the “notification”: how, what, why - and how to deal with it / Pochtoy.com blog

In a previous publication, our readers expressed a keen interest in the topic of purchases abroad of a wide variety of electronics, including smartphones and laptops. Let's try to tell what registration notification is, what threatens its absence, how to buy electronic devices abroad, and what to do if the parcel stopped at customs.

What is a “notification”?

The strange word “notification” hides the whole phrase “ notification of registration in the registry of encryption devices ”. Notification is the permission of the FSB of Russia to import electronic equipment containing encryption modules. Notification is issued for a specific device model. This concept appeared according to the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECE) dated 04.21.2015 No. 30 (as amended on 11.17.2015) “On non-tariff regulation measures” and applies to all types of electronic devices, which to some extent obviously use encryption, the list which are published in the List of encryption tools (List 2.19) .

What products do you need notification for?

The note to List 2.19 states that, for the purposes of using the above list, it is necessary to be guided by both the name of the product (that is, the name and description of the goods must assume the presence of encryption functions in it) and the code of the list of the commodity nomenclature of the foreign economic activity of the customs union ( TNVED TS ). In this regard, customs officers often require a notification if the HS code coincides with the code of products included in the list of encryption (cryptographic) means, approved by the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 30 of 04/21/15 “On non-tariff regulation measures” outside depending on whether the device supports encryption or not.

Thus, the Solution covers tablet computers and laptops (TNVED code 8471 30 0000), landlines and mobile phones (codes 8517 11 0000 , 8517 12 0000 and 8517 18 0000 ), routers and routers ( 8517 ), software ( 8523 ) microchips ( 8542), desktop computers, walkie-talkies and transmitting devices, server systems and much more. Due to the presence of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices in the list, which are wireless equipment for (with) encryption, the Solution covers absolutely any gadgets with the presence of appropriate communication modules - even wireless mice and keyboards. By the way, RFID tags are also a separate item, which also fall under the scope of this document on the basis of the Letter of the Federal Customs Service of Russia dated 03.06.2016 No. 01-11 / 27111 “On Customs Declaration of RFID Tags” .
A detailed list of categories of goods subject to mandatory notification in the territory of the EAEU can be found, for example, here.

How does it work for an ordinary customer?

The most obvious example of the action of the above Solution is the purchase of a smartphone abroad. If you turn to a well-known resource on portable equipment, you can find messages (for example, the first , second , third and fourth ) that the Russian customs service is preventing the receipt of smartphones from China and the United States.
This happens like this: at the post office, along with the long-awaited parcel, a customs notification arrives about the absence of smartphone notification in the EAEU. Such a parcel, according to the legislation, is not issued and it is proposed to contact customs officers. In turn, customs officers refuse to draw up the necessary documents in view of the already mentioned Decision. And here the problem begins, because:

a) officially the notification is issued to legal entities,
b) the cost of notification begins (according to Google search results) from 11,500 rubles.

For official sales in Russia and countries belonging to the Eurasian Customs Union, the notification of the FSB is issued either by electronics manufacturers or distributors. It guarantees the immutability of the encryption algorithms indicated in the document until the specified date, and this notification is sufficient for all mailings. It is important that the notification can apply both to the entire model range, assembled under a certain letter, and to one specific model of the device, which has a name accurate to a comma.
Most brands that do not officially sell in Russia do not have such documents. Many modifications of the device intended for sales in the markets of Europe, Asia or North America are also not notified. And this means that a postal item with an imported gadget can be delayed.

What to do if you really want to?

In fact, the need for notification should not become a reason for refusing to purchase the desired device if consumer electronics are purchased for personal use. Devices without notification do not accept courier delivery services. But regular and express mail do not pay attention to such trifles. If you use the services of Pochtoy.com (or any other carrier), the goods will be refused transportation without notification by courier services.
With a big difference in price you can always take a chance (unless, of course, PayPal is the payment method ). Shipments are checked selectively, and, for example, smartphones, tablets and laptops without notification regularly come from China and the USA to Russia (just read the reviewson our website). But there are other methods.

We get the FSB's written permission to import

For devices purchased for personal purposes (it is important - there can be no more than 2 devices in a parcel, this corresponds to the requirements of many suppliers regarding the transportation of batteries), you can try to obtain an official FSB import permit.
Upon receipt of a parcel by mail requiring notification, the buyer is notified of its arrival, but is not issued. It is transferred to custody and sealed. In exchange, postal workers transfer a package of documents for communication with customs authorities. Further work of mail with the indicated package is possible only with the sanction of the customs authorities. (More often this happens when the permitted duty-free monthly import limit is exceeded, if a duty is necessary, but it can also happen due to the lack of notification in Russia.)
After receiving the documents by mail, you must write a letter to the FSB, after collecting the following package of documents:

1. Bank statement with a seal about payment for the goods.
2. Application ( form ).
3. Description of the device (manufacturer, model, specifications, version of the operating system).
4. Confirmation of the order from the store in the form of screenshots.
5. Scanned first and second pages of the passport.
6. Customs Notice.

All documents must be collected in a PDF file. A letter with him must be sent to the address [email protected] and / or through a web-reception on the site fsb.ru. The letter should be made out as follows:

Headline

To the Center for Licensing, Certification and Protection of State Secrets of the FSB of Russia (TsLSZ FSB of Russia)

Text of the letter

Hello.
I purchased in the online store (store name):
1. Device (brand and model) - 1 pc.
To receive the parcel, the customs service requires a one-time permit for the import of non-notified funds into the Russian Federation for personal use.
Package of documents in the attachment.

The service has the right to respond within a month. Despite the fact that officially the FSB stopped issuing such formal replies back in 2010, many buyers receive a positive response. Unfortunately, this procedure is entirely dependent on the human factor. In a good situation, an import permit will appear very quickly.
A printout of it, together with the documents already collected, must be sent to the customs office, which has written the notification requirement (together with the mail notification). There it remains to write an explanation, which, together with a full package of documents, is transmitted to the customs inspector. After some time, the workers will put the stamp “Import is allowed” on the mail notification, and the parcel can be picked up.



Attention!The parcel will be stored at the post office for no more than 30 days, after which the process of returning it will begin. With prolonged registration, it is necessary to extend the shelf life by contacting the post office. But this service is paid.

And if there is no time, but the benefits are great?

There are a number of companies involved in product certification, customs clearance and registration of notifications. The nearest will prompt Google. The largest of them:

• "Minpromtest" ;
• "Certificate. Moscow" ;
• Center for licensing, certification and protection of state secrets of the FSB of Russia ;
• IFCG ;
• RadioCert .

Upon contact, their employees will draw up everything for 10-15 thousand rubles. As “physicists”, as well as legal entities. After that, it remains to go to the post office and pick up the goods. The difference in prices between the Russian market and Amazon can reach up to 30-50%, and with a high cost of goods - everything will pay off. You can make a notification and add up - it does not apply to a separate device, but to all devices of this model.

Should I make purchases in this case?

You can save money not only by buying gadgets for sales in other markets. On Amazon or eBay you can purchase the same devices as in Russia, but at lower prices. Some manufacturers do not supply their products to the mass user. And in that, and in another case, it is worth clarifying the availability of notification here . If it is on the list, you can safely buy.
Our statistics say that despite the lack of notification on many devices from the United States, they are actively sold to Russia. Sometimes it’s worth the risk.

I would like to collect other statistics. We are waiting for your comments on the requirements of the FSB notifications at customs - maybe it is time for us to improve the Pochtoy.com service and offer not only delivery, but also receipt of notifications?