Banning Foreign Words: What's Changing for Business and How to Prepare

Why was a ban on foreign words introduced?

The bill's authors note that in recent years, the number of signs, inscriptions, and information about promotions, discounts, and sales in foreign languages ​​has increased significantly. This creates barriers to consumer understanding and threatens the preservation of Russian as the state language. The innovations are based on Federal Law No. 168-FZ of June 24, 2025, «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation,» which expands the requirements of the Federal Law «On the State Language of the Russian Federation.»

The law introduces the concept of information intended for public disclosure to consumers

This includes all materials posted in publicly accessible places for an indefinite number of people, with the exception of advertising. Now such information must be exclusively in Russian or duplicated in Russian if a foreign language is used.

Additionally, it is prohibited to use the Latin alphabet in the names of residential complexes and houses - developers are required to use only the Cyrillic alphabet.

What exactly is prohibited: signs, plaques, and other public information

The new rules apply to:

• Signs and plates with information about goods, services or opening hours
• Signs, inscriptions and information signs in public places
• Other media intended for dissemination of information (except advertising structures)

Если информация не является рекламой, но предназначена длIf the information is not advertising but is intended for consumers, it must be in Russian. This supplements the existing prohibitions in the Consumer Protection Law (CPFL) and the Advertising Law, which no longer allow the use of foreign words without translation in mandatory consumer information.

An important nuance for B2B businesses: the law focuses on protecting the rights of individuals as consumers. If your company works exclusively with legal entities (business-to-business), these requirements may not apply directly, since businesses are not considered consumers under the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights. However, it is recommended to audit materials for compliance to avoid risks.

What about websites, company blogs, messenger channels and newsletters?

The law does not explicitly state that they are considered public information. Official clarification is expected only after March 1, 2026. For now, it is assumed that websites are not subject to the ban if they do not contain mandatory information for consumers. However, excessive use of foreign words may attract the attention of regulators.

Exceptions to the ban: when foreign words can be used

Not all cases are prohibited. Foreign words are permitted if they are registered as:

• Trademark or service mark
• Company name (for commercial organizations)

For example, if a product or company name is registered with Rospatent as a trademark, it can be used without translation. The trademark registry is available on the Rospatent website

Common terms such as CRM or API are often used in official documents and do not require trademark registration because they are standard designations in the industry.

A trademark and a business name are different concepts. A trademark protects the designation of goods or services, while a business name is the official name of a company in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (USRLE). If there is no business name in a foreign language, but there is a trademark, it can be used.

Fines for violating the ban on foreign words

No specific penalties for the new rules have yet been established. However, since bans on the use of foreign words existed before, the following fines will likely apply until the new articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation are introduced:

• For the use of foreign words in advertising: a fine for legal entities of up to 500,000 rubles (Article 14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation)
• For violations in other information for consumers: up to 10,000 rubles (Article 14.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation)

In the future, additions to the Code of Administrative Offences are possible, so businesses should prepare in advance.

Recommendations for businesses: how to adapt to change

To avoid problems, follow these steps:

1. Review the materials: Audit of signs, plaques, and public information. Replace foreign words with Russian or add a translation.
2. Register a trademark: If your company or product name is in a foreign language, register it as a trademark. The process is relatively simple and takes time—a few months. This only solves the problem for the name; other information will still need to be translated.
3. For B2B companies: Since you work with business clients rather than individuals, focus on the Advertising Law. It is more flexible and allows the use of foreign terms in professional communications. If you do not interact with individual consumers, the ban may not affect you.
4. Change the name if possible: If you're ready to switch to the Russian version, do so. For individual entrepreneurs or companies without a company name, registering a trademark is the best option.
5. Consult with specialists: Consult with lawyers to analyze specific cases, especially if there are brands in a foreign language.

These changes are a step toward preserving cultural heritage, but they require adaptation. If your company is B2B, the risks are minimal, but a preventative audit will help avoid surprises. Follow updates on official websites, such as fas.gov.ru

If you have questions about adapting your business, leave a request и мы поможем вам подобрать стратегию с максимальной окупаемостью!