Starting May 1, 2026, significant changes come into force in Russia’s mandatory “Honest Sign” (Chestny znak) product labeling system, affecting multiple product categories and introducing new rules for businesses.

One of the key innovations is the transition to paid emission of identification codes for smartphones, laptops, and tablets. While labeling for this category was previously free as part of a pilot project, now each code will incur a fee, with funds debited at the time the code is issued or applied to the device, and the cost per code is set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The deadline for bringing into circulation electronics balances produced or imported before May 1, 2026, under the old rules is August 31, 2026.

In addition to electronics, mandatory labeling starts for new product groups on May 1, which effectively means a ban on shipping and selling unmarked balances. This specifically applies to construction materials such as cement, drywall, OSB, particleboard, thermal insulation, roofing materials, and facade panels, and starting December 1, 2026, mandatory per-unit tracking will be introduced for retail sales — meaning mandatory scanning at the checkout.

Also from May 1, labeling becomes mandatory for bakery products and confectionery sweets. Alongside expanding the list of goods, the state is strengthening control over circulation: the State Duma has passed a law introducing an automated fine system similar to traffic cameras. Now the cash register itself transmits data to the Honest Sign system, and if a violation is recorded — for example, selling expired goods or violating tobacco pricing — the fine is issued robotically.

The penalties are substantial: for selling expired goods, individual entrepreneurs will pay 10,000 rubles per unit, and legal entities will pay 20,000 rubles per unit; failure to register in the system can result in a fine of up to 50,000 rubles; circulating unmarked construction materials under Article 15.12 of the Administrative Code carries a fine of up to 300,000 rubles for legal entities, along with confiscation of the products.

Thus, from May 1, the Honest Sign system definitively moves from an experimental phase to a regime of strict fiscal control, and businesses urgently need to check whether their products fall under the new categories, register in the system, and, where required, pay the license fee.