**CERTIFYING YOUR PRODUCTS INKAZAKHSTAN**

 

ByNataliya Antonenko

 

Althoughaimed at ensuring the quality and safety of imports, the complex and costlyproduct certification process in Kazakhstan has often served as a barrier totrade. The new Kazakhstani “Law on Certification,” which came into force onJuly 16, 1999, may help to ease this process. The intent of the new law is tobring regulations on certification in Kazakhstan into conformity with therequirements of international and interstate regulations on certification ofgoods and services and to specify the functions, rights, and obligations ofKazakhstani certification agencies. 

 

TheCertification System

Thestate certification system in Kazakhstan includes the following bodies: 

1.   The Committee on Standardization, Metrology andCertification (Gosstandart), attached to the Ministry of Energy, Industry andTrade, which is the central Kazakhstani standards and certification agency; 

2.   Accredited centers for certification of products,technologies, works, and services (44 throughout Kazakhstan), which are legalentities independent from manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers, and alsoincorporate testing laboratories; and 

3.   Testing laboratories (237 throughout Kazakhstan), whichare independent legal entities or structural divisions of legal entities.

 

WhatProducts Should be Certified?

Thelaw provides for the mandatory and voluntary certification of products, works,and services in Kazakhstan. Voluntary certification is conducted on the initiative of manufacturersor traders to prove conformity of products within regulation requirements.Voluntary certification does not substitute for mandatory certification. 

Productssubject to mandatory certification include motor transport; industrial pipelinefittings; metalwork and woodwork machine-tools; arms and ammunition; industriallaundry equipment; food industry and catering equipment; electric insulatingmaterials; cables; electromechanical, radiotechnical, and electronic products;means of communication; heating devices; household chemicals; toys; consumergoods that involve contact with skin, potable water, and food; packingmaterials; construction materials; medicines and medical devices; perfumes andcosmetics; agricultural and food products; fodder; fuel raw materials; mineralfertilizers and chemicals; and metallurgical industry products.       

 

CertificationDocuments

Acertificate of conformity is issued by an accredited center for products,technologies, works, and services. Currently, 10 different schemes are used inKazakhstan to certify various products and equipment. 

Thedocuments required for completing certification include, but are not limitedto, (1) a standard application form (available at certification centers), (2) acustoms declaration, and (3) a supply contract or agreement. Additionally,depending on the nature of the goods/certification scheme, the followingdocuments may be required: (1) a hygiene resolution and (2) a declaration ofconformity. All required documents should be submitted to an accredited centerthat specializes in certification of certain products. Following submission ofthe documents, the testing of samples takes place. Only after passing thistesting may a certificate be issued.

Thecost of the certificate is specified in a special agreement between theapplicant and the center. The cost depends on the type of certification schemeand may vary from one center to another depending on the applied calculationmethod. Different certification schemes provide for different terms of validityof the issued certificate. Products that contain components from othermanufacturers are tested and certified as “final products.” 

Themark of conformity can be affixed to the certified products. It functions as acopy of the certificate. The type and the size of the mark will depend on thetype of products. The mark should be affixed to each unit of the certifiedproduct, close to the trademark of the producer, on the unremovable part of theproduct, and on the operating manual or label.

 

U.S.companies are encouraged to contact Gosstandart for more information oncertification regulations and procedures.

 

UsefulContacts 

 

Committee on Standardization, Metrology andCertification  (Gosstandart) 

Tel: +7 (3172) 75-29-91; Fax: +7 (3172) 75-26-41

Email:             [email protected]

Website: www.banknet.kz/gosstandart (in Russian)

 

Almaty Branch of Gosstandart

Tel: +7 (3272) 21-65-41, 21-48-45; Fax: +7 (3272)21-65-59

 

KazSERTICO Almaty Branch (accreditation ofcertification centers and testing laboratories)

Tel: +7 (3272) 28-32-95, 28-65-44; Fax: +7 (3272)21-75-18

Email:            [email protected]

 

Kazakhstani Customs Committee

Tel: +7 (3172) 75-04-47; Fax: +7 (3172) 75-30-16

 

U.S. Commercial Service Almaty

Tel: +7 (3272) 58-79-20, 58-79-24; Fax: +7 (3272)58-79-22

Email:             [email protected]

Website:                      www.usis.kz/csalmaty

Contacts:             JulieSnyder, Senior Commercial Officer

NataliyaAntonenko, BISNIS Representative