Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: KMZ Cargo – KMZ CARGO –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Authorities are entrusting logistics companies with customs and law enforcement functions. The industry is assessing the risks and technical impossibility of implementing the new regulations.
According to a government decree dated November 18, 2023, from March 1, 2026, to March 1, 2032, freight forwarders and carriers will be required to inspect cargo for compliance with documents visually and using measuring instruments to identify items and substances withdrawn from circulation or restricted in circulation, Kommersant reports.
If a discrepancy is detected, they will be required to either obtain permission from the owner to open the cargo, or, if permission is refused, inspect the cargo using X-ray equipment and sniffer dogs, or refuse to transport it. Market participants claim that the regulation, which brings ground logistics closer to aviation standards in strictness, fails to take into account the real capabilities of businesses and creates insurmountable risks.
The key complaint is the technical and economic impossibility of equipping companies on a large scale with expensive equipment. As Nikita Larin, Head of Logistics at Transsertico, notes, tens of thousands of freight forwarding companies operate in the market, and providing each with container X-ray scanners, which cost hundreds of millions of rubles, is unrealistic. A Kommersant source in the logistics industry also notes the shortage of such equipment and the lack of personnel to operate them. Artem Vaskanyan, Deputy General Director of Logistics at NC Logistic, confirms that technical inspection equipment is currently the preserve of specialized services, while most market participants can only perform a visual inspection.
The second set of problems relates to procedural inconsistencies and a colossal expansion of liability. Yulia Shlenskaya, president of the customs and logistics broker KBT, describes the future process: when accepting cargo, for example, at a warehouse in China, the freight forwarder will be required to electronically sign a certificate confirming the contents comply with the documents. This certificate will serve as the basis for preliminary notification to customs. If a discrepancy is discovered during inspection at the border, liability will fall on both the freight forwarder and the customs representative, in addition to the existing penalties for false declarations. This, in her opinion, will make transportation risks unmanageable and could lead to a tenfold increase in administrative cases.
Experts point to the logistical inadequacy of these requirements in the context of international shipping. Igor Rebelsky, founder of VIG Trans, notes that it's physically impossible for a Russian freight forwarder to be present at every loading point worldwide, especially when handling already sealed containers. It's unclear how to organize border checks for hundreds of freight forwarders simultaneously. A Kommersant source among railway operators adds that standard acceptance is based on the number of packages, not each piece, and it's impossible to check the contents of a can of food, for example.
The document also lacks procedural clarity. Kirill Lakhin, Head of Logistics at Unitrade, points out the risk of misinterpretations due to the lack of clear grounds for inspection and a list of properties to be verified. It is unclear whether the freight forwarder can refuse the shipment if inspection is impossible, engage a third-party organization, or deduct inspections already conducted by government agencies.
In this regard, there are proposals to revise the approach. Experts, including Kirill Lakhin, Igor Rebelsky, and a Kommersant source in the operator industry, believe that such in-depth oversight functions should remain with specialized government agencies—customs and law enforcement—that possess the necessary authority, resources, and capabilities. Market participants believe that attempting to shift these responsibilities to businesses will either lead to formal non-compliance or paralyze the industry, which has a turnover of 11.7 trillion rubles.
As a reminder, the Russian government recently approved new cargo inspection regulations for freight forwarders. Resolution No. 1828 comes into force on March 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until March 1, 2032. The document establishes a list of organizational measures to identify prohibited items and substances, as well as the rules for implementing these measures. LR
Publication date: 12/01/2025
Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate account of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.