TR CU 026/2012 Technical Regulation Detailed Explanation
I. Overview of the Regulation
TR CU 026/2012, fully titled ‘Technical Regulation on Safety of Small (Recreational) Vessels,’ is a mandatory safety regulation established by the Eurasian Economic Union (formerly the Customs Union) for small recreational vessels and related equipment.
Issuance and Effective Date: Adopted by the Customs Union Committee of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan (now the Eurasian Economic Commission) on 15 June 2012 and officially effective on 1 February 2014.  
Legislative Purpose:  
To unify safety requirements for small vessels, lifesaving equipment, and associated equipment within the Customs Union/Eurasian Economic Union region;
To ensure the free circulation of the aforementioned products in the markets of member states;  
To protect human life and health, property safety, the environment, and prevent consumer misinformation.  
II. Scope of Application  
This regulation applies to small (recreational) vessels and related products placed on the market within the Eurasian Economic Union, specifically including:  
1. Small Vessels  
Life boats for use at sea or on rivers;
Sports boats (including racing boats and training boats, but excluding those specifically designed for competition);  
Motorised surfboards and other similar motorised watercraft;  
Experimental small vessels (246).  
2. Small Vessel Equipment  
Fire protection equipment for engines installed on the hull or stern drive engines;  
Anti-start devices when the external engine clutch is engaged;  
Steering wheels, controllers, and cable assemblies;
Fuel tanks and hoses;  
Factory-manufactured hatches and portholes.  
3. Lifesaving equipment  
Life jackets, life rings, and liferafts.  
III. Core requirements  
1. Safety requirements  
Regulations impose mandatory safety requirements on the entire lifecycle of small vessels, including design, construction, operation (including decommissioning/maintenance), and disposal/disposal, covering:  
Structural strength, stability, and fire resistance;
Safe operation of equipment (such as engines and fuel systems);
Equipment and effectiveness of lifesaving equipment.
2. Certification Requirements
All products within the scope of application must obtain EAC certification (Eurasian Economic Union Conformity Assessment) and bear the EAC mark to be marketed. Uncertified products may not be placed on the market.

Certification Programmes
EAC certification for small vessels is divided into two programmes:
Programme Type    Applicable Scenarios    Certification Content
1c    Series-produced vessels    Sample testing + production condition analysis + compliance check of technical documents (GOST standards, TU technical specifications)
3c    Single-unit/small-batch-produced vessels    Verification of product compliance with regulatory requirements on a case-by-case basis (specific procedures must refer to the guidelines of the certification body Shanghai Jinghe Industry)
IV. Exemptions
The following products are not subject to this regulation:
Lifeboats and duty boats for sea-going vessels/river vessels;
Sports boats specifically designed for competitions (including rowing boats and training boats as declared by the manufacturer);
Non-motorised water sports equipment (e.g., surfboards, inflatable tubes);
Motorised surfing devices and similar equipment (explicitly excluded following the 2023 amendment);  
Experimental small boats (limited to prototypes in the research and development phase);  
Hovercraft, hydrofoil boats, recreational submarines;  
Small vessels with a weight ≤ 100 kilograms;  
Water-based recreational facilities in amusement parks, etc. (added following the 2023 amendment).  
5. 2023 Amendment Content
On 23 August 2023, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission adopted Order No. 121, revising TR CU 026/2012, with the main adjustments including:
Clarification of the scope of application: added types of vessels not covered, such as ‘amphibious vehicles’ and ‘ram-winged vessels’;
Exclusion of recreational facilities: clarified that water-based recreational facilities in amusement parks do not fall under the category of ‘small vessels’;
Updating of terminology: Adjusted certain technical terms to clarify the regulatory language.

6. Certification Process Reference
Application: Manufacturers/importers submit an application to a certification body recognised by the Eurasian Economic Union;
Document review: The certification body reviews technical documents (e.g., design drawings, test reports, production processes);
Sample testing/factory audit: Conduct sample testing or on-site production audits according to the certification plan (1c/3c);
Certificate Issuance: After approval, an EAC Certificate of Conformity is issued, and the product is marked with the EAC logo.  

Summary  
TR CU 026/2012 is the foundational safety regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union for small recreational vessels, with its core objective being to ensure product safety and promote trade liberalisation within the region through unified certification requirements. Companies should focus on the scope of application, certification plans, and the 2023 amendments to avoid compliance issues that could hinder product access to the Eurasian market.

For further details on certification, consult a third-party certification body recognised by the Eurasian Economic Union (e.g., Shanghai Jinghe Industrial Equipment Testing Co., Ltd.). Certification Body: Shanghai Jinghe Industrial Equipment Testing Co., Ltd. specialises in product certification and testing for Russia and Eurasian Economic Union countries and serves as the Chinese representative office of the Russian Testing and Certification Group.