Life Jackets, Life Rings, and Life Rafts: A Detailed Explanation of EAC Certification
I. Overview of EAC Certification
EAC certification (Customs Union Technical Regulations Certificate) is a mandatory certification system of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU, comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan), aimed at unifying safety requirements for products within the region and ensuring the free circulation of goods. Its core mark is the EAC mark (Eurasian Economic Union Conformity Mark), and products without certification are not permitted to enter the EAEU market.
II. Applicable Regulations and Scope
EAC certification for life jackets, life rings, and life rafts must comply with TR CU 026/2012 ‘Technical Regulations on the Safety of Small Vessels’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Regulations’).
Scope of Application: Annex 1 of the Regulations explicitly lists ‘life jackets,’ ‘life rings,’ and ‘life rafts’ as ‘life-saving equipment’ subject to regulation, falling under the mandatory certification category.
Exclusions: The Regulation does not apply to lifeboats/rescue boats for sea/river vessels, competition-use sports boats (as declared by the manufacturer, such as racing boats or training boats), experimental small boats, etc. However, life jackets, life buoys, and life rafts typically do not fall under these exceptions.
III. Certification Process
The EAC certification process must comply with the Regulation and the requirements of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The specific steps are as follows (using lifesaving equipment as an example):
Step    Description
1. Application    Submit an application to an EAEU-recognised certification body (e.g., Shanghai Jinghe Industry, etc.). The applicant must be a legal entity registered with the EAEU (e.g., the manufacturer's agent, distributor, or branch).
2. Sample Testing    The certification body will take samples and conduct conformity testing in accordance with the safety requirements of TR CU 026/2012 (e.g., buoyancy, weather resistance, reflective performance, etc.).
3. Factory Inspection (if required)    For certifications with a validity period of one year or more (e.g., three years, five years), a factory audit is required (the company must have an ISO 9001 quality management system in place).
4. Certificate Issuance    After passing the testing and audit, the certification body issues the EAC Certificate of Conformity (which must be registered with the Eurasian Economic Commission for the certificate to take effect).

IV. Certification Requirements  
Conformity Documents:  
Products must be accompanied by an EAC Certificate of Conformity (for mass production) or a Declaration of Conformity (for small batches/single batches), demonstrating compliance with the requirements of TR CU 026/2012.
EAC Mark:  
The product itself, packaging, and technical documents (such as manuals and labels) must bear the EAC mark (formatted as ‘EAC’ + certificate number) to indicate that the product has been certified.  
Validity Period:  
Single-batch certificate (one-time export): applicable only to a single batch of products under a specific contract;  
1-year certificate: requires annual re-inspection;  
3/5-year certificate: requires regular factory inspections (every 1-2 years).

V. Notes  
Document preparation: Technical documentation (technical specifications, design drawings, test reports), manufacturer information (business licence, ISO 9001 certificate), and agent/distributor information (e.g., authorisation letter) must be provided.  
Certification body selection: A third-party certification body recognised by the EAEU (e.g., Wote Certification Services (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangdong Guorui Zhong'an Technology Group Co., Ltd., etc.) must be selected to avoid invalid certification due to non-compliant institutions.
Regulatory Updates: Monitor revisions to TR CU 026/2012 (e.g., the 2023 addition of the ‘exclusion of amusement park entertainment facilities’ clause) to ensure products comply with the latest requirements.

6. Summary
Life jackets, life rings, and life rafts, as essential lifesaving equipment for small vessels, must obtain EAC certification and comply with the safety requirements of TR CU 026/2012 to enter the Eurasian Economic Union market. Companies should plan the certification process in advance, prepare the necessary documentation, and select a legitimate certification body (such as Shanghai Jinghe Industrial) to ensure product compliance and avoid delays in market entry or penalties due to certification issues.
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.