Product marking in the Chestny Znak system
Product marking is the mandatory identification of every unit of product with a unique digital code, a DataMatrix code. In 2018 Russia adopted by law the national track-and-trace system Chestny Znak (“Honest Mark”), whose purpose is transparency of goods circulation, the fight against counterfeiting and consumer protection. Digital marking makes it possible to trace a product's whole journey from manufacturer to end customer.
Every year mandatory marking covers new product categories. If your company manufactures or sells goods on the list subject to mandatory marking (the current lists are published on the official websites of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and of the Centre for Research in Perspective Technologies, CRPT), then introducing a marking system is not a choice but a direct legal requirement. Non-compliance leads to serious administrative and criminal liability.
Teswel offers turnkey solutions for implementing product marking. We help plants across Russia connect to the Chestny Znak system and set up all production processes in line with the law.
What the product marking system is
The product marking system in Russia is a large-scale state project operated by the Centre for Research in Perspective Technologies (CRPT). Its main platform is the Chestny Znak system: a single digital environment that accumulates information on the production, movement and sale of every unit of goods.
The main means of identification is the DataMatrix code, a two-dimensional code holding a unique product identifier. Unlike a conventional barcode, DataMatrix can store a large amount of data and is read reliably even when partly damaged. Each such unique code on a product is withdrawn from circulation at the moment of sale, which rules out re-use.
Key elements of the system:
Chestny Znak: the national platform for accounting and control.
DataMatrix code: the key means of product marking.
Electronic document interchange (EDI): the mandatory tool for data exchange between participants.
National product catalogue: the database holding all product information.
There are various types of marking, but within the Russian system DataMatrix digital marking is used predominantly; it is the standard for most categories subject to mandatory marking.
How the marking system works in Russia
Key elements of the system:
Chestny Znak
the national platform for accounting and control
DataMatrix code
the key means of product marking
Electronic document interchange (EDI)
the mandatory tool for data exchange between participants
National product catalogue
the database holding all product information
How it works:
Manufacturer
Registers the product
Obtains codes
Applies the marking
Wholesaler
Checks
Accepts via EDI
Retail
Checks
Sells
Withdraws from circulation
Customer
Verifies authenticity in the app
Which goods are subject to mandatory marking
Mandatory product marking is a requirement of Russian law. The system was introduced in stages for many categories, and some have been marked for several years: fur coats, medicines, tobacco, footwear, perfume and eau de toilette, dairy products, beer and low-alcohol drinks, packaged water.
The list of goods subject to marking keeps growing:
| Goods | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Building materials | Register in the Chestny Znak system | From 1 September 2025 |
| Dry mixes | Mark the product | From 1 October 2025 |
| Sealants, fillers | Mark the product | From 1 December 2025 |
| Sports nutrition (bars, snacks, meat products, cocoa products, cereals, plant-based drinks, vitamins and supplements) | Register in the Chestny Znak system | From 1 September 2025 |
| Sports nutrition | Mark the product | From 1 October 2025 |
| Sports nutrition | Report withdrawal of goods from circulation | From 1 March 2026 |
| Children's goods (scooters, pedal cars, puzzles, toy models, children's cards, racing sets, dolls, doll prams, board games) | Register in the Chestny Znak system | From 1 September 2025 |
| Children's goods | Mark the product and report its circulation | From 1 December 2025 |
| Children's goods | Enable permissive mode at checkouts (sale of unmarked goods will be prohibited) | From 1 September 2026 |
| Confectionery and bakery | Register in the Chestny Znak system | From 1 September 2025 |
| Biscuits, wafers, glazed sweets, halva, marmalade, marshmallow and oriental sweets | Mark the product | From 1 December 2025 |
| Bakery products | Mark the product | From 1 March 2026 |
| Chocolate, caramel and chewing gum | Mark the product | From 1 May 2026 |
The current full list can always be checked on the official Chestny Znak website.
What must be marked: beer and low-alcohol drinks, dairy products, packaged water, cosmetics and household chemicals, seafood (caviar), medical devices, pyrotechnics, polymer pipes, home and interior goods, heating appliances, fertilisers, cables, optical fibre, radio electronics, low-alcohol drinks, hygiene products, pasta, cereals and honey, semi-finished products, meat products, car parts, perfume and eau de toilette, vegetable oils, pet food, canned goods, building materials, groceries, motor oils, antiseptics and disinfectants, soft drinks, non-alcoholic beer, confectionery, sports nutrition, instant drinks.
Full list of laws and requirements
Product marking requirements are strictly regulated by Russian law. The main documents are the following federal laws:
Federal laws:
No. 487-FZ of 31 December 2017
Federal Law No. 487-FZ of 31 December 2017 amends the federal laws on cash registers and trade, 381-FZ and 54-FZ. It states the goals of launching the marking system, prohibits the circulation of goods without means of identification and establishes liability for breaches. It assigns to the Government the definition of product groups and the product attribute on the receipt.
In force since 1 January 2019.
No. 488-FZ of 25 December 2018
Federal Law No. 488-FZ of 25 December 2018 amends the federal laws on cash registers and trade, 381-FZ and 54-FZ. It adds definitions of marking-related terms, defines the monitoring system and the basic rules of its operation, and sets out changes to the exchange of information between fiscal data operators and the state information system, and its confidentiality.
In force since 1 January 2019.
No. 325-FZ of 29 September 2019
Federal Law No. 325-FZ of 29 September 2019 amends the Tax Code: entrepreneurs selling goods subject to mandatory marking may not apply the unified imputed income tax or the patent system.
In force since 1 October 2020.
Government orders:
No. 792-r of 28 April 2018
Government Order No. 792-r of 28 April 2018 lists the product groups for which marking is launched, sets the dates for introducing marks and gives the commodity codes (customs HS codes and OKPD2). It is a convenient reference for checking which product codes need marking.
In force since 1 January 2019.
No. 2963-r of 28 December 2018
Government Order No. 2963-r of 28 December 2018 sets out in detail the goals of a single marking system in Russia, lists the legal acts on which the system rests and formulates the requirements for the state information system.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is named coordinator and its functions are defined. The Ministry of Digital Development is charged with regulating the information side (data exchange, technical requirements and control of compliance, participation in system acceptance).
Government resolutions:
No. 515 of 26 April 2019
Government Resolution No. 515 of 26 April 2019 describes in detail the monitoring system created to control the circulation of goods and the marking rules. It explains the terminology used and sets the rules for information exchange between market participants and the marking operator.
In force since 14 May 2019.
No. 860 of 5 July 2019
On approval of the rules for marking footwear with means of identification and the specifics of introducing the state information system for monitoring the circulation of goods subject to mandatory marking, in respect of footwear.
What a DataMatrix code contains
The marking on a product carries the following information in the form of a DataMatrix code.
The rules for marking goods with means of identification impose strict requirements on the quality of the applied code: it must be clear, high-contrast and easily readable by scanners at every stage of circulation. Marking specifics for different categories (for example footwear, medicines or clothing) can have their own nuances that must be taken into account.
Marking equipment and application to packaging
Compliance with the marking rules requires special equipment and software, including:
- Thermal transfer label printers and applicators.
- Inkjet printers (CIJ, DOD) and entry-level laser markers.
- High-speed laser and inkjet systems, solutions for difficult surfaces.
- Control elements at levels L1, L2 and L3.
- Barcode scanners: high-precision devices for reading and verifying codes.
- Software: specialised software for generating codes, working with EDI and integrating with accounting systems (1C, MoySklad).
Teswel offers modern marking solutions that provide the highest degree of code readability and rule out defects in application. We will select the optimal product marking equipment for your production lines.
What happens if goods are produced and sold without marking
Fine for a sole trader
up to 30,000 RUB
Fine for a legal entity
up to 300,000 RUB
Selling goods without marking is a serious offence. Liability for missing marking is governed by Article 15.12 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences and may include:
- For officials: a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 roubles.
- For legal entities: a fine of 50,000 to 300,000 roubles.
Unmarked products are also subject to confiscation. For the production of tobacco or alcohol and its introduction into circulation the fines rise: 300,000 to 500,000 roubles for officials and 700,000 to 1,000,000 roubles for legal entities.
Stages of connecting to the Chestny Znak system
We take on every stage, from registration to the first introduction into circulation.
1
Registration in the Chestny Znak system.
We register the company as a participant in circulation.
2
Description of goods in the National catalogue.
We enter all the required information about your products.
3
Obtaining marking codes.
We order the required number of unique DataMatrix codes.
4
Setting up the accounting system.
We integrate marking into 1C and set up and connect EDI.
5
Organising the marking processes.
Quality control set-up. Warehouse accounting.
6
Selection and installation of equipment.
We select the product marking equipment, install and commission it, and train your staff.
7
Application to packaging.
We choose and implement the best marking method: printed, direct (inkjet, laser) or labelling.
8
Test run and debugging.
Trial marking of a batch. All processes are checked and adjusted if needed.
9
Full implementation and support.
Launch into industrial operation.
10
Reporting and control.
We set up the processes for introducing goods into circulation, moving them and withdrawing them at sale.
Why choose us
Teswel is not just a service provider but a technology partner with deep expertise.
Turnkey connection to the Chestny Znak system.
From audit to commissioning and start of operation.
Deep integration.
We set up interaction with 1C, CRM and warehouse systems.
Own production and design office.
We work with all product categories.
We work across Russia.
We provide support in Moscow, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities.
Technical support 24/7.
FAQ: common questions about marking
What is product marking for?
Marking creates a transparent system for controlling the circulation of goods, fights counterfeit and illegal products and protects consumers.
Which goods are subject to mandatory marking in 2025?
From 2025 mandatory marking extends to new categories: building materials, sports nutrition, children's goods (scooters, games), confectionery and bakery.
What happens if goods are sold without marking?
Fines: up to 30,000 RUB for sole traders and up to 300,000 RUB for legal entities, with confiscation of all unmarked products.
Can DataMatrix codes be applied in-house?
Yes, if you have the right equipment (printers, markers), code-generation software and access to the Chestny Znak system. For quality and compliance, however, it is better to turn to professionals.
How much does marking implementation cost?
The cost depends on the product volume, the product category, the chosen equipment and the scale of the project. We audit the site and calculate an individual commercial proposal.
What are the most common marking mistakes?
The most frequent: wrong code format or damaged code, duplicated codes, mismatch between catalogue data and the packaging, errors when introducing goods into circulation via EDI.
What if a code has not been introduced into circulation?
The product counts as unmarked and may not be sold. The manufacturer is held liable under Russian law.
Can printed but not activated codes be used?
No. Codes do not exist for the system until they are introduced into circulation via EDI or the Chestny Znak personal account.
What if a scanner cannot read the code?
Check the print quality, contrast and integrity of the code. If the defect is confirmed, the product must be withdrawn and re-marked.