From March 1, 2026, amendments introduced by Federal Law No. 168-FZ of June 24, 2025, to the Law of the Russian Federation "On Protection of Consumer Rights" have come into force.
The Law has been supplemented with a new Article 10.1, which establishes mandatory requirements for information intended for public dissemination to consumers.
What changes await businesses?
Article 10.1 of the Consumer Protection Law obliges manufacturers, contractors, and sellers to display information intended for an indefinite circle of persons in Russian as the state language of the Russian Federation. This applies to any information communicated to consumers in the course of trade, consumer services, and other types of services. The scope of this provision includes pharmacy signage, marketplace product cards, directional signs, price tags, display stands in service areas, as well as websites (since the internet space is considered a publicly accessible place).
In regions where this is provided for by law, information may additionally be displayed in the official languages of the republics and other languages of the peoples of Russia, provided that the principle of equivalence is observed: the text in Russian and the text in the language of the republic must be identical in content and equal in placement and technical presentation.
What exactly must be translated into Russian?
From March 1, 2026, information for consumers in publicly accessible places (signage, price tags, websites) must be in Russian.
Below are examples of how this looks across different industries:
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Pharmaceutical industry: signs such as "Vitamins," "Antibiotics," "Prescription" are replaced with their Russian equivalents; signs like "Pharmacy," "Consultation," "Cash desk" similarly become Russian.
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FMCG (food and everyday goods): price tags and display signage such as "SALE," "NEW," "HIT" become "Распродажа," "Новинка," "Хит"; department signs like "Coffee," "Fresh," "Snacks" become "Кофе," "Свежие продукты."
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Automotive industry (dealerships, service stations, car washes): service signage such as "Car Wash," "Service," "Detailing" becomes "Автомойка," "Сервис," "Профессиональный уход за автомобилем."
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IT and digital services: website and app interface elements (buttons like "Sign up," "Log in") become "Зарегистрироваться," "Войти."
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E-commerce (online stores, marketplaces): product cards (descriptions, specifications, ingredients), notifications, and communications to consumers must be in Russian.
What can remain in a foreign language?
Trademarks are the main exception to the new language requirements. According to paragraph 4 of Article 10.1 of the Consumer Protection Law, they may be used in their original form, including in Latin script, on signage, price tags, directional signs, and advertising. However, it is important to understand the limits of this exception.
The requirements of the new Article 10.1 also do not apply to advertising. However, there is a nuance: when displaying any public information, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between advertising materials (banners, posters, promotional posts), which are governed by the Federal Law "On Advertising," and informational reference materials on signage, price tags, display boards, and websites, which are assessed under the new rules of Article 10.1 of the Consumer Protection Law.
Do business cards and forms need to be translated?
Business cards and internal forms are generally not intended for public dissemination to an indefinite circle of persons, so the new requirements do not apply to them. However, the situation changes if such information is placed in areas accessible to consumers. For example, a door sign indicating an employee's position ("Medical Director," "QA Manager") constitutes information for visitors. In such a case, it must be in Russian. Duplication in a foreign language is permitted, but the Russian text must be present and equal in placement and presentation.
If it concerns internal documentation, correspondence, or forms used only within the company, the requirements of the Consumer Protection Law do not apply.
What are the next steps for businesses?
First and foremost, an audit of all information carriers encountered by consumers must be conducted. Check signage, information boards, price tags, door signs, directional signs inside buildings, as well as website content. Identify elements that constitute trademarks and ensure that all other information is presented in Russian. If duplication in the languages of Russia’s republics is planned, full content identity and equivalence of presentation must be ensured.
Particular attention should be paid to job titles on signs and any information placed within customer view. Remember: the law is designed to protect consumer rights, ensuring that every person can easily understand important information. Therefore, even if certain provisions seem excessive, it is better to bring documentation into compliance in advance and avoid potential claims from regulatory authorities.