CIS Railway Shipping Documents: Complete Checklist for Shippers

Proper documentation is the foundation of any railway shipment. An error in the waybill, wrong ETSNG code, or missing certificate can stop cargo at a border station for days. This reference covers all documents required for domestic and international rail freight in the CIS region.

Documents for Domestic Shipments (Within One Country)

Railway Waybill

The primary document for any domestic rail shipment. Contains: shipper, consignee, origin and destination stations, cargo name, ETSNG code, number of wagons, weight, freight cost. Issued through electronic document systems (ETRAN in Russia, equivalents in other CIS countries).

Transport Contract

Signed between the shipper and carrier (or wagon operator). Defines terms: tariff, deadlines, liability, payment procedure.

Cargo Certificates (When Required)

• •Phytosanitary certificate — for grain, seeds, timber
• •Quality certificate — for metals, chemicals, oil products
• •Veterinary certificate — for animals and animal products
• •Conformity declaration — for industrial goods

Documents for International Shipments (CIS)

SMGS Waybill

The Agreement on International Railway Freight Traffic (SMGS) is the standard for shipments between CIS countries, China, Mongolia, and several European nations. The SMGS waybill replaces the national waybill for the entire international leg.

Customs Documents

• •Transit declaration — for cargo passing through a country
• •Export declaration — when leaving the origin country
• •Import declaration — when entering the destination country
• •CMR — for multimodal transport (road + rail)

Cargo Codes: ETSNG and GNG

Every waybill must include a cargo code. For domestic CIS shipments — ETSNG code (Unified Tariff-Statistical Nomenclature). For export and international — additionally GNG code (Harmonized Nomenclature).

Shipper Document Checklist

1. 1Contract with carrier or wagon operator
2. 2Waybill (domestic) or SMGS (international)
3. 3ETSNG code (and GNG for export)
4. 4Cargo certificates (if required)
5. 5Power of attorney for representative (if not the shipper)
6. 6Payment documents (invoice, act)
7. 7Insurance policy (recommended for valuable cargo)

Common Documentation Errors

• •Wrong ETSNG code — cargo rejected for transport
• •Cargo name mismatch between waybill and certificate
• •Missing SMGS for international shipment
• •Expired phytosanitary certificate
• •Incorrect destination station (per railway directory)

"More than 15% of delays on CIS rail shipments are caused by documentation errors — not wagon shortages."