Since August 3, 2026, an updated customs inspection procedure, approved by an order of the Ministry of Finance, has been in effect in Russia. The exchange of documents between customs authorities and foreign economic activity participants has transitioned to an electronic format via an information operator or a personal account.

Photo and video recording are mandatory in two cases: if the assignment specifies the use of a digital camera, or if discrepancies and violations are detected. The inspection act is generated in electronic form. If no violations are found, a brief note stating "Inspected. Corresponds to documents" is permitted.

The inspection is carried out strictly within the scope specified in the assignment. Deadlines depend on the operation: for customs release, the inspection is completed no later than 2 hours before the end of the release period; for temporary storage, no later than the next working day. The period can be extended if it is necessary to divide the consignment or verify information.

The new procedure does not apply to goods of individuals, diplomatic mail, international postal items, international transport vehicles, supplies, and pipeline transport.

For the Chinese food market, the transition to electronic document management enhances the transparency of procedures. It is crucial for Chinese food exporters to prepare accompanying documents more accurately to avoid delays. At the same time, the accelerated information exchange can reduce border crossing times for perishable goods.