The restrictions lifted include those related to bird flu, in place since 2005, as well as foot-and-mouth disease and nodular dermatitis, enforced since 2016 and 2022 respectively, according to reports from TuraNews.kz and BasAgro.kz.
This decision follows efforts by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, who highlighted these barriers at a meeting of Agriculture Ministers from the Organization of Turkic States in Taraz in March 2024.
“Kazakhstan is ready to supply high-quality meat products to Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Hungary. Unfortunately, the Turkish market has been largely closed to our veterinary service providers. However, this year, China and Russia lifted similar restrictions on Kazakhstan. Therefore, we believe it’s time to revisit this issue with Türkiye,” Saparov stated. The matter was further discussed during a bilateral meeting with Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Gizligider Ebubekir.
The final decision came after negotiations between Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, A. Berdalin, and Türkiye’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, A. Gümen, during the 91st session of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in May.
Türkiye’s decision, based on reports from Kazakhstan submitted to the OIE, acknowledges the effective measures Kazakhstan has implemented to combat these diseases. This move is expected to boost Kazakhstan’s agribusiness and enhance trade relations by harmonizing veterinary standards for livestock products.
The next step involves coordinating veterinary requirements, which will be discussed during Aidarbek Saparov’s visit to Türkiye in August 2024.
Currently, restrictions remain for sheep and goat pox in certain regions of Kazakhstan. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture’s veterinary service is actively working to lift these remaining barriers.
