KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATES TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS

KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATES TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS

AUTHOR: OKSANA CHUKREYEVA, U.S. COMMERCIAL OFFICE, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN

JANUARY 26, 2000

1. LABELING LAW UPDATE

New amendments to the labeling law requiring certain goods to be labeled in both the Kazakh and Russian languages were published in the Jan. 14^th and Jan. 26^th issues of Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.

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

GOK Resolution No. 121 (amending the August 31, 1999 "On Changes to GOK Resolution No. 1274) was issued on Jan. 24^th and cancels a Feb. 1^st deadline that would’ve prevented goods not properly labeled from entering the country. (Note: An April 1^st deadline requiring certain goods to be properly labeled before they can be sold will remain. April 1, 2000 is the deadline date for sales of non-Kazakh/Russian language-labeled goods entering the country before February 1, 2000.) While the delay in enforcement gives importers more time to comply, the Kazakhstani government recommends that companies implement the new requirements as early as possible.

LIST OF IMPORTED GOODS SUBJECT TO LABELING IN THE KAZAKH AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGES

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

BEGIN LIST

--Poultry and poultry food byproducts;

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

--Preserved vegetables for short-term storage, dried etc.;

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

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

--Prepared products made of meat, fish or crustaceans, mollusks, or other aquatic invertebrates (except their extracts and juices);

--Sugar and confectionery goods made of sugar;

--Chocolate and other prepared food products containing cocoa;

--Prepared products made of grain and cereals, flour, starch, or milk; flour confectionery goods (except tapioca and tapioca 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 tobacco substitutes (except tobacco raw material and tobacco waste products);

--Salt suitable for use in food;

--Paints and lacquers;

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

--Organic surfactants packaged for retail sale;

--Fireworks;

--Carpets and other textile floor coverings;

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

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

--Household refrigerators and freezers;

--Household washing machines;

--Vacuum cleaners;

--Electric playback devices;

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

--Wooden, plastic, electrified, metal, and other toys.

END LIST

LIST OF EXEMPTED GOODS

The following items were removed from the original list and are no longer affected by the labeling law, according to Gosstandart.

BEGIN LIST

--Edible fruits and nuts; rinds and peels of citrus fruits, melons and gourds;

--Pro-vitamins, vitamins, and hormones;

--Antibiotics;

--Pharmaceutical products;

--Photographic chemicals; unmixed products used for photographic purposes presented in measured amounts or packaged for retail sale in ready-to-use form;

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

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

--Leather goods;

--Natural artificial fur and articles made therefrom;

--Paper goods;

--Fabrics made of natural silk or silk wastes;

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

--Linen fabrics;

--Fabrics made of synthetic and artificial blended fibers;

--Fabrics made of synthetic and artificial fibers;

--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 other household and bath items made of porcelain and ceramics;

--Glass table and kitchen utensils, bath and 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 and receiving 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 under Kazakhstan’s certification Law are to be labeled in both Kazakh and Russian languages, according to an August 29, 1999 Government Resolution. Detailed information on labeling of processed foods can be obtained by visiting the Kazakhstani Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification website at: www.banknet.kz/gosstandart

Labeling requirements for processed foods. According to this Government Resolution, labels on all processed foods should include in Kazakh and Russian languages:

the name of the good;

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

the country of origin;

net/gross weight;

ingredients;

calorie count;

any harmful contents;

directions for use

recommended storage conditions;

the production date;

the “best before” date;

information on certification

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

the label 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 equal written dimensions.

all product labels for processed foods manufactured abroad must be translated into the Kazakh and Russian languages at the expense of the importing organization

the information should be printed on the original label or packaging. However, if labeling of the product presents a technical difficulty, the regulation for labeling processed 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 also be included in accompanying leaflets.

The Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification and the Customs Committee are the governmental enforcement bodies. To ensure compliance with legislation 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 specific goods, please contact the Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification 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, 2^nd 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: Oksana.Chukreyeva@mail.doc.gov

Website: www.usis.kz/csalmaty

Contact: Ms. Julie Snyder, Senior Commercial Officer

Ms. Oksana Chukreyeva, Commercial Clerk

IMI TEXT ON ORIGINAL DECREE OF APRIL 29, 1999

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

3. LABELS MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 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). THE INFORMATION MUST BE PRINTED ON THE ORIGINAL LABEL OR PACKAGING; INCLUDED IN ACCOMPANYING LEAFLETS OR DIRECTIONS FOR USE (ONE PER UNIT); OR ATTACHED IN ANY OTHER WAY DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF GOOD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CORRESPONDING STANDARDS AND LAWS.

4. THE NEW LABELING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED BY PRODUCERS AND/OR IMPORTERS (ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS) AND/OR SELLERS OF THE IMPORTED GOODS. DELIVERY OF IMPORTED GOODS AND/OR SUPPLY CONTRACTS MUST CONTAIN PROVISIONS FOR LABELING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS.

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

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

6. ACCORDING TO THE KAZAKHSTANI PRESS, THE NEW REGULATION HAS BEEN TARGETED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF IMPORTED GOODS AND IS LIKELY TO AFFECT THE DELIVERY OF GOODS TO KAZAKHSTAN FROM ABROAD. THE KAZAKHSTANI GOVERNMENT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ADVISED OF PLANS TO PROTECT DOMESTIC PRODUCERS THROUGH EXCHANGE RATE MODIFICATIONS AND TARIFF AND NON-TARIFF BARRIERS. LOCAL OBSERVERS HAVE STATED THAT NEW LABELING REQUIREMENTS ARE PART OF THIS POLICY AND PRACTICE. . . .