**KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATES TOLABELING REQUIREMENTS**

 

AUTHOR: OKSANA CHUKREYEVA, U.S. COMMERCIALOFFICE, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN

 

JANUARY26, 2000

 

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGNCOMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 2000.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THEUNITED STATES.

 

1. LABELING LAW UPDATE

 

New amendments to the labeling lawrequiring certain goods to be labeled in both the Kazakh and Russian languageswere published in the Jan. 14th and Jan. 26th issues ofKazakhstanskaya Pravda.  

 

Kazakhstani government (GOK) Resolution No.44, adopted Jan. 11th, provides a newly-revised list of goodsrequired to be labeled in the Kazakh and Russian languages plus or minusvarious goods.  This is welcomenews for many companies, especially pharmaceutical firms, whose products havebeen exempted from the dual-language requirement.

 

GOK Resolution No. 121 (amending the August31, 1999 "On Changes to GOK Resolution No. 1274) was issued on Jan. 24thand cancels a Feb. 1st deadline that would’ve prevented goods notproperly labeled from entering the country. (Note: An April 1stdeadline requiring certain goods to be properly labeled before they can be *sold* will remain.   April 1, 2000 is thedeadline date for sales of non-Kazakh/Russian language-labeled goods enteringthe country before February 1, 2000.)   While the delay in enforcementgives importers more time to comply, the Kazakhstani government recommends thatcompanies implement the new requirements as early as possible.

 

LISTOF IMPORTED GOODS SUBJECT TO LABELING IN THE KAZAKH AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGES 

 

The following is a condensed list of goodsaffected by the labeling law. Harmonized System numbers are available uponrequest at the U.S. Commercial Service in Almaty (contact info below).  Specific questions should be addresseddirectly to the Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification ofthe Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade (Gosstandart) (contact info below).

 

BEGINLIST

 

--Poultry and poultry food byproducts;

 

--Dairy products; bird eggs; natural honey;animal derived food products (except packages with net volume more than 2litters);

 

--Preserved vegetables for short-termstorage, dried etc.;

 

--Products of from flour and cereals,starch, inulin;

 

--Fats and oils of animal or vegetable originand derivative products, prepared food fats, waxes of animal or vegetableorigin (except for industrial use);

 

--Prepared products made of meat, fish orcrustaceans, mollusks, or other aquatic invertebrates (except their extractsand juices);

 

--Sugar and confectionery goods made ofsugar;

 

--Chocolate and other prepared foodproducts containing cocoa;

 

--Prepared products made of grain andcereals, flour, starch, or milk; flour confectionery goods (except tapioca andtapioca substitutes made of starch);

 

--Products of processed vegetables, fruits,nuts, or other plant parts;

 

--Various food products (except extracts,essences and concentrates);

 

--Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages;

 

--Products used in the feeding of animals;

 

--Tobacco and industrial tobaccosubstitutes (except tobacco raw material and tobacco waste products);

 

--Salt suitable for use in food;

 

--Paints and lacquers; 

 

--Hair-care products (shampoos) and teethcleaning products (tooth pastes and tooth powders);

 

--Organic surfactants packaged for retailsale;

 

--Fireworks;

 

--Carpets and other textile floorcoverings;

 

--Machine-knit or hand-knit clothing andclothing accessories;

 

--Textile clothing and textile clothingaccessories (except machine knit or hand-knit)

 

--Household refrigerators and freezers;

 

--Household washing machines;

 

--Vacuum cleaners;

 

--Electric playback devices;

 

--“Television-connection” receivingequipment for color, black and white and other monochrome images;

 

--Wooden, plastic, electrified, metal, andother toys.

 

END LIST

 

LISTOF EXEMPTED GOODS

 

The following items were removed from theoriginal list and are no longer affected by the labeling law, according toGosstandart.

 

BEGIN LIST

 

--Edible fruits and nuts; rinds and peelsof citrus fruits, melons and gourds;

 

--Pro-vitamins, vitamins, and hormones;

 

--Antibiotics;

 

--Pharmaceutical products;

 

--Photographic chemicals; unmixed productsused for photographic purposes presented in measured amounts or packaged forretail sale in ready-to-use form;

 

--Floor coverings made of polymermaterials, self-adhesive or non-self-adhesive, in rolls or tiles; polymercoverings for walls or ceilings;

 

--Hygienic or pharmaceutical articles(including nipples) made of vulcanized rubber, with or without hard rubberfittings;

 

--Leather goods;

 

--Natural artificial fur and articles madetherefrom;

 

--Paper goods;

 

--Fabrics made of natural silk or silkwastes;

 

--Fabrics made of machine-spun woolen yarnor machine-yarn made of fine and coarse animal wool or horsehair;

 

--Linen fabrics;

 

--Fabrics made of synthetic and artificialblended fibers;

 

--Fabrics made of synthetic and artificialfibers;

 

--Fleece and terry fabrics;

 

--Pattern-cut or non-pattern-cut linoleum;pattern-cut or non-pattern-cut textile based floor covering materials;

 

--Footwear leggings, and similar goods;

 

--Headgear and parts thereof;

 

--Table and kitchen utensils and otherhousehold and bath items made of porcelain and ceramics;

                              

--Glass table and kitchen utensils, bathand office accessories;

 

--Food preparation devices;

 

--Razors and razor blades;

 

--Manicure and pedicure kits and tools;

 

--“Inertialess” electric water heaters;

 

--Telephone sets;

 

--General-use radio transmitting andreceiving equipment;

 

--Electric sound or light alarm equipment;

 

--Baby carriages;

 

--Frames and fittings for eyeglasses,protective eyeglasses, and other optical devices;

 

--School, home, office furniture.

 

END LIST

 

NOTES ON LABELS

 

Goods subject to compulsory certification underKazakhstan’s certification Law are to be labeled in both Kazakh and Russianlanguages, according to an August 29, 1999 Government Resolution.  Detailed information on labeling ofprocessed foods can be obtained by visiting the Kazakhstani Committee onStandardization, Metrology and Certification website at: www.banknet.kz/gosstandart

 

Labeling requirements for processed foods.  According to this GovernmentResolution, labels on all processed foods should include in Kazakh and Russianlanguages:

 

the name of the good; 

the name and address of the producer, packer, andimporter;

the country of origin;

net/gross weight;

ingredients; 

calorie count; 

any harmful contents; 

directions for use 

recommended storage conditions;

 theproduction date; 

 the “bestbefore” date;

 information on certification

 

Label Layout and Content.  The layout of the information is also important.  The information must be laid out in thefollowing way: 

 

thelabel must be placed on the lefthand side or at the top in the Kazakh language;on the righthand side or at the bottom in Russian. Letters should be in equalwritten dimensions. 

allproduct labels for processed foods manufactured abroad must be translated intothe Kazakh and Russian languages at the expense of the importing organization

the information should be printed on the original labelor packaging.  However, if labelingof the product presents a technical difficulty, the regulation for labelingprocessed foods allows for a sticker to be attached to the product packaging,according to the Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification. 

labeling information in the two languages should alsobe included in accompanying leaflets. 

 

The Committee on Standardization, Metrology andCertification and the Customs Committee are the governmental enforcementbodies.  To ensure compliance withlegislation they are authorized to check and test samples of imported goods. 

 

5. CONTACT INFORMATION AND ORIGINAL TEXT OF EARLIER IMI ON LABELLING

 

A. For detailed information on specificgoods, please contact the Committee on Standardization, Metrology andCertification of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade (Gosstandart)directly at:

 

Address: 166/5 Pushkin Street

Astana 473000, Kazakhstan 

Tel: 7 (3172) 75-29-91

Fax: 7 (3172) 75-26-41

Website: www.banknet.kz/gosstandart (Russian-language site)

Contact: Mr. Marat Ryzbekov, Chairman

 

Customs Committee

Address: 166/1 Pushkin Street, 2nd floor

                   Astana 473000, Kazakhstan

Tel: 7 (3172) 75-04-47

Fax: 7 (3172) 75-30-16

Contact: Mr. Maratkali Nukenov, Chairman

 

U.S. Embassy Commercial Service in Almaty

Address: 531 Seyfullin Prospect, 3rd floor

Almaty 480091, Kazakhstan 

Tel: 7 (3272) 58-79-20, 58-79-24

Fax: 7 (3272) 58-79-22 

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.usis.kz/csalmaty

Contact: Ms. Julie Snyder, SeniorCommercial Officer

                   Ms. Oksana Chukreyeva,Commercial Clerk

 

IMI TEXT ON ORIGINAL DECREE OF APRIL 29,1999

 

. . .2. ACCORDING TO AN APRIL 29, 1999GOVERNMENTAL ORDER ON MEASURES TO RESTRICT THE IMPORT OF POOR QUALITY GOODS TOKAZAKHSTAN, . . .ALL GOODS SUBJECT TO COMPULSORY CERTIFICATION UNDERKAZAKHSTAN’S CERTIFICATION LAW MUST BE LABELED IN THE KAZAKH AND RUSSIANLANGUAGES. 

 

3. LABELS MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWINGINFORMATION: 1) NAME OF GOODS AND INGREDIENTS; 2) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN; 3)PRODUCER; 4) PRODUCTION DATE; 5) EXPIRATION DATE; 6) STORAGE DIRECTIONS; 7)DIRECTIONS FOR USAGE; 8) NUTRITION INFORMATION (FOR FOOD PRODUCTS ONLY). THEINFORMATION MUST BE PRINTED ON THE ORIGINAL LABEL OR PACKAGING; INCLUDED INACCOMPANYING LEAFLETS OR DIRECTIONS FOR USE (ONE PER UNIT); OR ATTACHED IN ANY OTHER WAYDEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF GOOD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CORRESPONDING STANDARDSAND LAWS.

 

4. THE NEW LABELING REQUIREMENTS MUST BEIMPLEMENTED BY PRODUCERS AND/OR IMPORTERS (ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS)AND/OR SELLERS OF THE IMPORTED GOODS. DELIVERY OF IMPORTED GOODS AND/OR SUPPLYCONTRACTS MUST CONTAIN PROVISIONS FOR LABELING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEWREGULATIONS.

 

5. THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDIZATION, METROLOGYAND CERTIFICATION IN ALMATY (TEL: 7-3272-21-65-41 FAX: 7-3272-28-56-55) AND THECUSTOMS COMMITTEE IN ASTANA (TEL: 

7-3172-75-04-47; FAX: 7-3172-75-30-16) ARE THEGOVERNMENTAL ENFORCEMENT BODIES. TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION THEY AREAUTHORIZED TO CHECK AND TEST SAMPLES OF IMPORTED GOODS. THE STANDARDIZATIONCOMMITTEE ALSO PLANS TO EXERCISE TIGHTER CONTROLS OVER THE CERTIFICATION OFIMPORTED GOODS.

 

6. ACCORDING TO THE KAZAKHSTANI PRESS, THE NEWREGULATION HAS BEEN TARGETED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF IMPORTED GOODS AND ISLIKELY TO AFFECT THE DELIVERY OF GOODS TO KAZAKHSTAN FROM ABROAD. THEKAZAKHSTANI GOVERNMENT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ADVISED OF PLANS TO PROTECTDOMESTIC PRODUCERS THROUGH EXCHANGE RATE MODIFICATIONS AND TARIFF AND NON-TARIFFBARRIERS. LOCAL OBSERVERS HAVE STATED THAT NEW LABELING REQUIREMENTS ARE PARTOF THIS POLICY AND PRACTICE. . . .