TR is a technical regulation. So a standard that sets requirements for products output is called. Two types of technical regulations are distinguished: national and Customs Union ones. Russian TRs are gradually phased out. To replace them the CU technical regulations that have wider application scope are being introduced.

Russian technical regulation requirements are subject to mandatory observance by economic agents. They are enacted at the state level with the help of federal laws, transnational agreements, the RF President decrees, governmental resolutions and international contracts. Compliance with standards requirements by manufacturing, commercial and service-providing companies is being constantly checked by controlling bodies.

The main purpose of technical regulations is to guarantee output of products that is quality and safe for consumer, prevent consumers from being deceived, protect environment and property of different ownership private and state alike. No other goal is permitted to be achieved by technical regulations.

Technical regulations have the following mandatory articles:

  1. Description of objects under control.
  2. List of main terms that are important for understanding meaning and usage rules of regulations.
  3. Conditions under which technical regulation requirements are applied.
  4. Rules for carrying out tests for compliance.
  5. Rules of state supervision.
  6. Appendix that lists standard indicators.

For usage convenience technical regulations are divided into classification groups according to means of setting the requirements and area of usage of the document.

According to the first classification criterion technical regulations are divided into framework and prescriptive ones. Framework standards contain general requirements for goods and services that considerably enhance effectiveness of control over their circulation. Information that is contained in regulations is specified thanks to references to other documents.

Prescriptive regulations contain more specific requirements for goods and due to this they are considered to be less flexible.

According to the second classification criterion (area of usage) they differentiate among macro industry, special and general technical regulations. Macro industry regulations are called to unify general and special standards. The former in its turn are used to control wide range of goods and services (e.g. environmental, radiological, nuclear, biological safety requirements, requirements for electromagnetic compliance). And the latter, special regulations are intended for control over circulation of specific types of goods, those that pose considerable potential threat for consumers’ health, exceeding the one that is covered by general regulations.