The ban on importing poultry products from Kazakhstan, which had been in place since 2005, and restrictions due to foot-and-mouth disease introduced in 2022, have now been lifted. This move enables the resumption of exports to China, including frozen beef and pork from southeastern regions of Kazakhstan, alongside a diverse array of poultry products, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This significant development paves the way for Kazakhstan to initiate the process of coordinating veterinary requirements to expand its range of export goods. It also allows for efforts to enable enterprises from across Kazakhstan to participate in exporting to China.
The decision to lift these bans follows the official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan to the People’s Republic of China in 2023. During this visit, President Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to supply livestock products to China.
Subsequent negotiations, led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and an official meeting between Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov of Kazakhstan and Chairman Yu Jianhua of the General Customs Administration of China in November 2023, contributed to this positive outcome.
Throughout 2023, Chinese authorities conducted thorough risk assessments for avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease. In December, a delegation of experts from China’s State Technical University and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs conducted an audit of Kazakhstan’s veterinary services to ensure adequate control over these diseases.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan pledges to continue its efforts to expand the Register of enterprises eligible for export to China. This initiative holds promise for Kazakh agribusinesses, offering new avenues to access the lucrative Chinese market.
