Asstra with Tips for Importing Medical Devices to Russia

Tatyana Gaevskaja, Head of Department at the logistics service provider Asstra, spoke at the ‘Swiss Business Hub Russia’ about the specifics of importing medical devices to Russia. According to a study by the Tebis Group, the import flows of medical devices within Russia have increased by 53% over the past five years.

(Magdeburg) In the pre-pandemic report of 2019, imports exceeded domestic production by 2,800 times. Today, the Russian market for medical devices consists of 80% imports. However, the interest of foreign manufacturers in the Russian healthcare sector is declining due to export difficulties. To support the economy, the global networks ‘Switzerland Global Enterprise’ and ‘Swiss Business Hub Russia’ held a webinar on May 17, 2021, for Swiss companies on how to properly export medical technology to Russia.

Tatyana Gaevskaja, Head of Trade and Contract Logistics at the international corporate group AsstrA, gave a presentation at the event ‘Particularities of Importing and Customs Clearance of Medical Devices to Russia’. She provided tips for inexperienced importers on how to simplify and efficiently enter the Russian market.

Own Legal Entity

“First, the manufacturer of the medical devices must decide how the products should be presented legally in the Russian market. This can be done by opening an own legal entity, through a dealer, or through a regional representative, without opening a legal entity. This decision will determine the next steps for the importer,” shares Tatiana Gaevskaja her experiences.

Each type of representation has its organizational features and specifics. Opening a branch requires significant resource investments, while building a dealer network does not guarantee the reliability of the distribution chain. This leads to the compromise solution of having a representative in the region without opening a legal entity. The AsstrA experts offer this option to companies that are starting to expand into the Russian market.

Knowledge of Local Legislation

“Organizing transport, customs clearance, certification, storage, and documentation requires knowledge of local legislation and legal processes. Outsourcing these services helps the manufacturer focus on entering a new sales market and saves time and financial resources,” adds Tatiana Gaevskaja. “If the importer decides to open their own branch initially, the AsstrA team advises on any questions that arise and also supports the establishment of an uninterrupted supply chain.”

Photo: © Asstra