What it is worth in money
ST-1 is a certificate of origin under the CIS free trade agreement. With confirmed origin in a member country, no import duty is charged at all.
A worked example. A furniture shipment (code 9403) worth 20,000 dollars, weighing 4,000 kg. The tariff rate is 15%, but not less than 0.4 dollars per kilogram.
| Origin | Duty | VAT 12% | Total payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| China, certificate held | $3,000 | $2,760 | $5,760 |
| Russia, ST-1 held | $0 | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| Russia, no ST-1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $8,000 |
The gap between the second and third rows is 5,600 dollars on a single truckload. The third row is worse than the Chinese one because unconfirmed origin adds the surcharge.
Who issues it, and for what
The certificate is issued in the country of export: in Russia by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in Uzbekistan by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and the Chamber. The procedure is set by Cabinet resolution No. 994 of 13.12.2019.
It is issued per shipment and is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
The key condition is sufficient processing: a change in the first four digits of the HS heading, or an ad valorem share. The goods must be produced or substantially processed in the country, not merely transshipped there.
Customs verifies certificates online
The Customs Committee portal publishes direct verification links:
- Russian ST-1 — through the Russian Chamber of Commerce registry
- Chinese certificates — through CCPIT and chinaorigin.gov.cn
- Chinese export declarations — through the Chinese customs portal
- Uzbek certificates of conformity — through the standart.uz state registry
A forgery surfaces during clearance. The consequence is not only reassessment but article 227-22 of the Administrative Code: 7 to 15 base units for an official, with confiscation of the goods.
What changed on 28 February 2026
Article 300-1 of the Customs Code took effect. Previously a missing certificate simply meant no preference. Now an additional duty is charged on top of the normal rate:
| Base rate | Additional duty |
|---|---|
| up to 10% | +5% |
| 10–20% | +10% |
| 20–30% | +15% |
| above 30% | +20% |
A common mistake
Goods bought from a Russian supplier but manufactured in China. ST-1 cannot be obtained — the origin is Chinese. Reselling through a CIS country does not change origin. This surfaces at the border, when recalculating is too late.