THE CORE OF THE INNOVATION
In September 2025, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) approved a goods tracking mechanism under the EAEU agreement. The decision takes effect February 1, 2026, and after a 10-day transition period (beginning February 11), shipment tracking launches for cargo transported by road and rail across two or more EAEU member states – Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Authorized national operators – one per member state – manage the tracking system. In Russia, that's LLC "Center for Digital Platform Development" (LLC "CDPD").
"Navigation seals will accelerate digitalization of freight rail transport across EAEU members, strengthening trade and economic cooperation," explained the representatives of the Center for Freight Transport Organization. "The system boosts security and transparency in cargo movements, streamlines customs procedures, and cuts delivery times."
THREE-PHASE TRACKING
The EAEU agreement establishes a three-phase tracking mechanism. The transition will take 480 days and cover different transport modes.
According to an LLC "CDPD" representative, phase one – starting February 11 – covers road and rail shipments of sanctioned goods, alcohol, and tobacco under customs transit, export, and mutual trade procedures. Road transport of light industry and electronics goods under customs transit also comes under monitoring.
Phase two – beginning July 31 – expands requirements to all road cargo types and rail shipments of light industry and electronics goods under customs transit.
Phase three – May 27, 2027 – brings all rail customs transit under tracking.
HOW IT WORKS
Navigation seals installed at EAEU entry points are used across the entire union territory. The seal is applied at the point of goods dispatch.
According to the Center for Freight Transport Organization, seal application and removal occur under the supervision of authorized personnel who secure cars at stations or customs clearance points.
"When a seal is applied, it's fastened to designated spots on rolling stock, activated, and registered in the national operator's tracking system. Upon removal, a deed is drawn up confirming deactivation in the system, and the seal is returned to the manufacturer," explains Russian Railways.
The information systems of national operators are integrated with each other, enabling monitoring of shipments under seal from origin to destination. For instance, as a navigation seal travels through Russian territory, any authorized operator's seal transmits data to the LLC "CDPD" system.
THE HOLDING COMPANY STANDS READY
Russia's Ministry of Transport previously tasked Russian Railways (JSC "RZD") and LLC "CDPD" with preparatory work to implement EAEU agreement requirements. The parties analyzed freight flows of specific commodity types across Russia and identified a list of stations for seal application and removal.
By late 2025, work was completed to equip railway infrastructure with all necessary communications services and equipment. The holding company also conducted a series of test shipments to verify interoperability with Russia's national operator.
As a result, on February 11, navigation seals can be applied or removed at 48 stations across the RZD network, located across different regional railway zones. The holding company already has experience with navigation seals. Commercial shipments using them began on the network back in 2016. In late 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers approved regulations (Government Decree No. 1877 of December 27, 2019) governing transit of sanctioned cargo using seals based on GLONASS technology.
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
The dynamic integration of sealing into the transit customs clearance process is essential. It's a key component of train acceptance procedures at railway border crossing points, where strict time limits must be observed.
Larisa Korshunova,
Director of Government Relations
and International Organizations
JSC UTLC ERA
Meeting these requirements is fundamental for UTLC ERA and the freight rail transport sector as a whole.
The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) documents stipulate that sealing must be integrated into the technological processing of container trains. This stage represents a potential bottleneck, which understandably concerns us. We will work actively in this area, ensuring necessary coordination to prevent possible risks and container train delays.
What will change from February 11 on? Most likely, there will be no significant changes for operators and freight forwarders. The container sealing process will not require additional documentation from shippers, operators, or forwarders. The only requirement will be existing contracts with national sealing operators in Eurasian Economic Union countries to cover their services, as these services are paid. After February 11, we will be able to better assess how successfully this cargo tracking technology is being implemented, what risks emerge, and what measures are needed to minimize them.
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