Parallel import — bringing in branded goods without the trademark owner's consent — is legal in Russia for goods on an approved list. The question is whether your specific product qualifies, and where the line to a customs or IP problem sits.
Import of listed branded goods without the brand owner's authorisation, cleared and sold like any other import — a legal route, not a grey one, for products on the government list.
Goods off the list, or a trademark still actively protected, can turn a parallel import into a seizure. Classification, value and the approved-list position all have to line up.
Parallel import — the importation of genuine branded goods into Russia without the brand owner's consent — was legalised in Russia in March 2022 and remains fully operational in 2026. For foreign manufacturers and brand owners whose products appear in Russia through this mechanism, it is no longer a fringe issue: it is mainstream supply chain reality. This guide explains how parallel import works legally, what it means for VAT and customs, and what options foreign brands actually have.
Before 2022, Russia operated a system of "national exhaustion" of intellectual property rights — meaning the rights owner could prevent imports of genuine goods not authorised for the Russian market. In March 2022, the Russian government issued Resolution No. 506, switching to an "international exhaustion" principle and permitting parallel import of a wide category of goods.
Genuine goods only: parallel import applies to authentic branded goods — not counterfeits. A fake product is still illegal regardless of parallel import status.
Permitted goods list: not all goods qualify. The Ministry of Industry and Trade maintains a list of product categories (and specific brands within those categories) for which parallel import is permitted. The list has been updated multiple times since 2022 and now covers thousands of product codes across electronics, automotive, machinery, pharmaceuticals, clothing, cosmetics and many other sectors.
No authorisation needed: a Russian importer can bring goods on the permitted list into Russia without the brand owner's consent and without any separate Russian registration or authorisation.
Parallel-imported goods go through exactly the same customs clearance process as authorised imports:
EAEU import duties apply at the standard rate for the HS code — there is no surcharge or penalty for parallel import status;
VAT at 22% applies on import (customs value + duty), recoverable as input VAT for the importing company;
Conformity certificates and declarations (TR EAEU) are still required where mandated for the product category — the parallel import status does not exempt goods from safety certification requirements;
The brand owner's trademark is not infringed by the importation of genuine goods under the permitted list — the rights are deemed exhausted internationally.
A Russian company importing goods through the parallel import channel pays the same duties, the same VAT and goes through the same customs process as an authorised importer. The goods can be sold domestically, invoiced with VAT at 22%, and resold without restriction. There is no "parallel import tax" or compliance premium for the importer.
Parallel-imported goods clear like any other import: applicable duty plus 22% import VAT. The parallel-import status affects trademark consent, not the customs cost.
Foreign manufacturers whose products appear on the Russian market via parallel import face a specific set of issues that are different from simple trademark infringement:
Pick what applies — we'll tell you the risk:
Loss of pricing control: authorised distributors and service networks in Russia can be undercut by parallel-imported goods sold at lower prices — particularly where the brand owner has reduced or stopped official Russian sales.
Warranty and service liability exposure: if the brand's Russian service network is still operational (or if Russian consumers have warranty expectations under Russian consumer law), parallel-imported goods may generate warranty claims that the brand did not intend to support. Russian consumer law does not distinguish warranty obligations by import channel for physical goods.
Reputational risk from product modifications: goods intended for markets other than Russia (different voltage specifications, language labelling, formulations) may arrive via parallel import and cause consumer issues that reflect on the brand.
Secondary sanctions and export control exposure: for manufacturers in the US, EU, UK or other jurisdictions with Russia export controls, knowing that their goods are reaching Russia via parallel import does not relieve them of export control compliance obligations. If a manufacturer knows its goods are being diverted to Russia through a third country and fails to act, it may face regulatory scrutiny in its home jurisdiction.
Parallel import is legal only for goods on the government-approved list. Off-list goods, or an actively enforced trademark, can turn an import into a hold or seizure — confirm the position before shipping.
Parallel import turns on whether the goods qualify — but the supplier in the chain still has to be screened by ownership. Approved goods from a counterparty that's blocked at the 50% level is still a problem. The two checks are separate, and both have to pass.
Options for foreign brand owners in relation to parallel import are more limited than before 2022, but not zero:
Monitor the permitted list: if specific products or brands are on the Ministry's permitted list, that is a regulatory fact that cannot be changed unilaterally. But some products remain off the list — understanding which of your products are covered is the starting point.
Product differentiation: designing Russia-specific product variants (different firmware, regional settings, serialisation) that are not interchangeable with products sold in other markets makes parallel import harder to execute profitably.
Engage the service network strategically: where the brand owner has maintained a Russian service or authorised repair network, declining to service parallel-imported goods is generally permissible — though it must be consistently applied and well-documented to withstand Russian consumer law scrutiny.
Export control compliance in the supply chain: strengthening contractual and operational controls to prevent diversion through third countries — know-your-customer checks on large buyers in Turkey, Kazakhstan, UAE and other jurisdictions where Russia-bound diversion is common — is both a compliance requirement and a practical deterrent to parallel import supply chains.
Trademark enforcement on counterfeits: parallel import of genuine goods is legal; counterfeits are still illegal in Russia. Maintaining an active anti-counterfeiting programme in Russia remains possible and valuable — it focuses on the fakes that use parallel import as cover.
Check whether your products are on the Ministry of Industry and Trade's parallel import permitted list — updated regularly at minpromtorg.gov.ru
Audit your supply chain for diversion risk — particularly large buyers in Turkey, UAE, Kazakhstan and other third countries
Review your warranty and service policy in Russia in light of parallel-imported goods and Russian consumer law obligations
Ensure export control compliance documentation is current and reflects the parallel import diversion risk for your product categories
Separate your anti-parallel-import strategy (limited options) from your anti-counterfeiting strategy (fully available) — conflating the two leads to wasted enforcement resources
Yes, for goods on the government-approved list — it lets you import branded products without the trademark owner's consent, cleared and taxed like any normal import. It's a legal mechanism, not a grey scheme, but it only covers listed goods, so the first check is whether your product qualifies.
Yes — they clear customs like any other import, with the applicable duty and 22% import VAT. The parallel-import status affects the trademark-consent question, not the customs treatment, so classification and customs value still have to be right.
If the goods aren't on the approved list, or the specific mark is still actively enforced, customs can hold or seize them. Confirming the approved-list position and the trademark status for your exact product before shipping is what avoids a seizure at the border.
This explains the legal framework. The practical question is whether your goods are on the approved list, clear customs cleanly, and carry the IP and VAT treatment right — because parallel import is legal but not consequence-free.
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