The Russian Government has expanded the list of sweets subject to mandatory labeling to include spherical lollipops weighing up to 30 grams. The current phase of implementing the system for producers and importers of this category began on July 1, 2026.

Initially, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed entirely excluding such lollipops from the list. The reason was purely technical: the traditional wrapper on Chupa Chups-style candies twists and crinkles, making it physically impossible to scan a labeling code on it.

The introduction of the new requirements sparked concerns in the industry. Speculation arose that the authorities left the market with no choice, forcing participants to abandon the familiar wrapper and pack each lollipop in an individual plastic bag (flow-pack) capable of bearing a scannable code.

However, the operator of the labeling system (CRPT) issued an official clarification: the primary wrapper of spherical caramel itself will not need to be labeled. Through its decree, the government exempted this specific category from primary packaging requirements. Codes must be applied only if the candies have a secondary consumer packaging—for example, multipacks or cardboard display boxes used at checkout counters.

For the Chinese food market, this clarification eliminates the main risks. Chinese suppliers will not have to purchase new equipment to pack each lollipop in an individual plastic bag for export to Russia. The traditional twisted wrapper remains fully compliant. The main task for exporters now is to adapt their packaging lines so that the "Chestny Znak" system codes are correctly printed on the secondary cardboard or plastic packaging (display boxes).