Complex cases of escort: cargo, parallel import, brands

Working with China and other countries on supplies to Russia increasingly involves non-standard schemes: Cargo delivery, parallel import, work with branded goods. Participants of foreign economic activity face issues of legality, risks at customs and legal support. In this article, we will discuss what really works in 2025, which schemes are considered gray or legal, and how to avoid problems.

What is Cargo and why is it unofficial?

Cargo delivery It is an informal way of moving goods across borders. outside the standard procedures. As a rule, a logistics company in China or a third country is responsible for the shipment, which aggregates the goods of different customers and arranges them for itself.

The main features of the “cargo” scheme:

• The goods are not issued to the final recipient;
• The customs declaration may be absent or executed with an understatement of the cost;
• No contracts with the carrier, except the act of reception and transfer or WeChat correspondence.

Risks:

• Confiscation at customs: in case of inspection;
• Lack of right to sell: without documents for the goods (invoice, declaration, certificate);
• Criminal or administrative liability: if it involves smuggling or forgery of documents.

Alternative:

• White delivery through legal entity with registration of all documents: invoice, certificates, GTD;
• Double-working cargo (declaration through friendly EAEU countries, for example, Kazakhstan) - applies, but with restrictions.

Parallel import: what can and can not?

Parallel imports Import of original branded products without the permission of the copyright holderbut bypassing sanctions restrictions. From 2022 it is officially allowed in Russia regulation 506.

Conditions of law:

• Goods included in parallel-importapproved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation;
• The products are original (not a fake)
• Documents of origin and originality provided.

Check:

• The current list is available on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade:
  https://minpromtorg.gov.ru

Problems:

• Unproven originality = risk of seizure of goods at customs;
• Denial of certificationif there is no supply chain;
• Request from the rightholder (Even in parallel imports, there may be claims.)

What matters:

• Keep evidence of originality (invoices, packaging, serial numbers);
• It is advisable to work through the legal entity, contract of supply to a third country (e.g. UAE, Kazakhstan).

Brands: Where is the boundary between original and fake?

Original brand

Products produced in compliance with all intellectual property rights, with serial number, packaging and proven origin.

Importable:

• Through parallel imports (if the brand is on the list);
• With the registration of documents of origin;
• With subsequent retail sales.

Fake or "remark"

Goods produced trademarked. Even if the quality is good, it is counterfeit.

Can't bring in:

• Counterfeit falls under Article 14.10 of the Administrative Code (fines and confiscation);
• Can be destroyed at customs;
• The threat of a criminal case at a large scale.

How to Avoid Brand Problems:

• Check the merchandise. register of intellectual property objects FCS:
  https://customs.gov.ru/ipr
• Require from the supplier documents confirming Licensing and Originality;
• Use it. secondary-market models (Refurbished, Overstock, Stock) if they do not infringe trademark rights.

Documents: what is needed for non-standard schemes

Legal advice

1. Make contracts with the carrier and the supplier. Even if you work through “acquaintances,” ask for legal documents.
2. Keep all correspondence and proof of payment. They will be useful in disputes at customs.
3. Check the HS code and the required certification before buying.
4. Work with intellectual property lawyersIf you bring in goods with logos.
5. Don’t trust “grey” sentences without details. If the price is too good to be true, it’s probably fake.

Under sanctions and restrictions, many schemes have become blurred and logistics have become more complex. It is important to understand the boundaries between:

• convenient scheme (cargo through the EAEU)
• illegal scheme (smuggling, counterfeiting).
  

Parallel imports -- possibilityIt requires strict compliance with the conditions. Working with brands. risk zoneEspecially if there are no documents. It's important. legal clarity and document managementOtherwise, you could lose everything at the border.