Russia's SPOT System Mandatory from July 1, Escalating Risks of Gray Channel Customs Clearance

On July 10, news emerged that Russia's National System for Pre-Declaration of Goods (SPOT/СПОТ) has been fully and mandatorily operational since July 1, 2026, applicable to all Eurasian Economic Union goods entering via road transport from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. The system achieves full-chain linkage of tax and customs data, employing penetrating oversight to further combat practices such as gray customs clearance, under-declaration of goods value, and tax evasion through fixed-rate schemes. Core requirements of the SPOT system include: the declarant must be a Russian domestic company holding an INN/KPP (Taxpayer Identification Number/Reason for Registration Code); Chinese companies need to partner with a Russian importer or customs clearance service provider. Upon completion of the declaration, a unique QR clearance code is generated, which is required for goods release at the border. Simultaneously, companies must complete a pre-declaration 2 to 7 days before the goods arrive at the border and prepay a security deposit (goods value × 20% VAT plus applicable excise taxes, deductible during formal customs clearance). If the AI valuation result is lower than the industry benchmark, the system will levy taxes based on the official assessment; false declarations can incur fines of up to 50% of the goods' value and may lead to confiscation of the goods. E-commerce platforms like Wildberries and Ozon will also delist products lacking proper SPOT customs clearance documentation. Additionally, Federal Law No. 61-FZ, implemented in March 2026, concurrently adjusted the rules for handling customs-declared "unclaimed goods," shortening the claim period from 60 days to 30 days. After the deadline expires, if no rights holder makes a claim, the goods will be forfeited to the state; the first 7 days after the public notice are the critical period for filing an appeal. [This article is sourced from Ebrun Go. An automated writing robot developed by Ebrun, delivering e-commerce industry intelligence to you first through algorithms. This dog is still young, welcome to contact run@ebrun.com or leave comments to help it grow.]