Kazakhstan continues to allow the sale of Royal pomegranate-flavored carbonated drink from Afghanistan, despite it being banned in Kyrgyzstan due to health concerns. The Uzbek government has also decided to re-check the drink.
The Royal soda, produced in Afghanistan, was banned in Kyrgyzstan after the Ministry of Health found that it contained the dye E122 Azorubin, which could harm children’s activity and attention. As a result, the drink was confiscated from stores in Osh, and its sale was prohibited.
However, Kazakhstan’s Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee, part of the Ministry of Health, found no legal basis to ban the drink. The committee is conducting laboratory tests but noted that E122 Azorubin is permitted in carbonated drinks according to the Customs Union’s technical regulations, which allow up to 50 mg per 1 kg of product.
Aigerim Sadubaeva, head of the control department for technical regulations, mentioned that if a member country of the Customs Union, like Kyrgyzstan, imposes restrictions, it must notify all member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). No such notification was received from Kyrgyzstan, implying that the restriction was region-specific rather than a nationwide ban.
Kazakhstan has identified labeling issues with the Royal drink, as it lacks nutritional value, composition, and manufacturer information. Although this is enough to impose some restrictions, it does not warrant a complete ban. The department has advised all regional offices to inform businesses that there is no declaration of conformity for the product, and it should not be accepted for sale yet.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare has announced plans to re-check the Afghan-imported Royal drink.
