Key Changes in Trade Regulation in Belarus and the EAEU

In February–March 2026, several important initiatives were implemented in the area of foreign trade regulation and integration procedures in Belarus and the EAEU, aimed at strengthening the legal framework for cross-border trade, increasing logistics transparency and ensuring more effective consumer protection in the common market.

A brief overview of the adopted and planned changes is set out below.

1. Oversight of Distance Selling

As part of the improvement of distance selling regulation, the regulator has identified the following priorities for 2026:

• establishing clear and understandable ground rules for marketplaces;
• preventing unjustified intermediation;
• making full use of antitrust enforcement tools.

This is intended to increase consumer confidence and the level of compliance with mandatory product requirements.

In September 2025, the public consultation on the draft Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Improving the Regulation of the Consumer Market” was completed. The draft is aimed at protecting the interests of the individual, society and the state in the area of trade, including online trade, as well as creating conditions for fair competition, including by levelling the conditions for carrying out business activities for Belarusian and foreign online shops and online trading platforms, and by improving the quality of services provided.
 

The legislator and the regulator are once again signalling to the market a shift from fragmented regulation to more systematic oversight of digital trading platforms and their counterparties.

2. The EEC Board Supported a Package of Consumer Protection Documents

As part of the continued improvement of trade regulation, including distance selling, on 26 February 2026 the Eurasian Economic Commission approved the draft final report on the implementation of the consumer protection programme in the EAEU Member States and identified areas for development for the new programme cycle.

The document sets out the strategy for the further harmonisation of approaches within the EAEU and will be considered at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Council in 2026.

Key areas:

• harmonisation of requirements for product quality and safety in the EAEU market;
• common approaches to liability for violations of consumer rights;
• strengthening of oversight tools in cross-border trade.

Who is this important for?

Importers, manufacturers, retail chains, e-commerce operators and marketplaces operating in Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

How will this affect businesses?

The alignment of standards should reduce discrepancies in the application of legal rules and increase regulatory predictability, which will help strengthen the confidence of end consumers. At the same time, requirements for internal compliance and for the quality of customer-facing documentation will increase.

What can be done right now?

• conduct an audit of internal local regulatory documents, public offers, user agreements and return policies;
• verify the completeness and accuracy of product information disclosed, including on websites;
• assess contractual models with suppliers and marketplaces in terms of the allocation of risks and liability.

3. Mandatory Use of Navigation Seals in the EAEU

Whereas the above changes primarily concern trade regulation and consumer protection (including distance selling), the following initiatives affect the logistics and control infrastructure of cross-border supplies by enhancing the digital traceability of the movement of goods within the EAEU.

As of 11 February 2026, a new mechanism for the use of e-seals (navigation seals) entered into force in the Eurasian Economic Union for cross-border carriage of certain categories of goods by road and rail.

At the first stage, navigation seals apply to:

• sanctioned goods and certain excisable goods (alcohol and tobacco) transported by road and rail in transit, export and mutual trade between the Member States;
• certain categories of goods (clothing, footwear and equipment) transported by road under the transit procedure;
• certain items of nicotine-containing products and nicotine raw materials exported by road under the export procedure.

Key changes:

• mandatory use of navigation seals on international EAEU routes;
• automated collection of cargo movement data;
• reduction of manual controls and faster transit across borders.

Practical significance:

• fewer delays at the border;
• greater transparency of logistics chains;
• lower risk of claims from customs authorities.

For carriers, exporters and importers, this means the need to adjust logistics contracts and procedures for interaction with sealing operators.

4. Expansion of the List of Goods Subject to Traceability in Belarus

As of 1 March 2026, the Republic of Belarus significantly expanded the list of goods subject to traceability under the national product circulation control system. It now includes new categories of household appliances, power tools and electronics.

This reflects the trend towards tighter control over product quality and traceability both in the domestic market and in cross-border operations.

New obligations for businesses:

• use of electronic waybills for all transactions involving such goods;
• submission of complete and accurate information on the movement of products to the traceability system;
• maintenance of quantitative records in the prescribed units of measurement to be stated in electronic waybills.

Practical implications:

Wholesale and retail companies, importers, distributors, e-commerce operators and logistics operators must review their accounting processes, adapt their IT systems, and ensure proper integration of accounting and warehouse systems with the requirements of the traceability system, thereby minimising the risk of fines for inaccurate reporting.

What This Means for Business

Taken together, the above initiatives reflect a general trend towards deeper integration of trade procedures within the EAEU and the Union State:

• regulation of product quality and information transparency is becoming stricter;
• logistics and statistics are being standardised;
• digital control tools are becoming mandatory for participants in transport and logistics chains.

How We Can Help

Against the backdrop of the evolving regulation of e-commerce and cross-border trade, REVERA’s lawyers are ready to assist in adapting internal processes to the requirements of Belarusian and EAEU legislation:

• to conduct an audit of internal local regulatory documents, policies, public offers and user agreements for compliance with distance selling and consumer protection requirements;
• to revise contractual structures and customer documents taking into account the current requirements regarding product information, return terms and the parties’ liability;
• where necessary, to prepare well-reasoned legal positions and documents for dealings with the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, customs authorities and other supervisory authorities.

Timely adaptation of processes to the new requirements is not only a means of reducing regulatory risks, but also a tool for strengthening the confidence of partners and consumers in the common EAEU market.

Author:  Elina Hardziyenka, Sergey Suschenya.