EEC extends Belarusian, Russian experiment with navigation seals for forest products for a year

MINSK. May 26 (Interfax) - The experiment to use navigation seals to control truck shipments of forest products from Belarus to Russia has been extended until the middle of 2026, the State Customs Committee of Belarus said on Friday.

"A decision to extend the experiment for shipping Belarusian timber and processed wood products through the territory of Russia using navigation seals was made at the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Commission council that was held today in Moscow," the press release said.

The experiment was extended until July 1, 2026 "on the initiative of the Belarusian side because this mechanism has proven effective in practice and businesses are extremely interested in it," the committee said.

The mechanism was introduced in February 2023 in order to enable exports of such products from Belarus. The experiment applies to forest products covered by EAEU customs codes 4404 and 4407. In April, it was extended until July 1, 2025. Navigation seals have been used more than 3,500 times since the experiment began.