Kazakhstan Eases Beef Export Rules, Imposes Six-Month Egg Import Ban

A high-level government commission has approved a series of measures affecting Kazakhstan's agricultural sector, including relaxed requirements for beef exporters and a temporary ban on chicken egg imports. The decisions were made during a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade and Participation in International Economic Organizations, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.

The commission decided against imposing temporary restrictions on potato exports, citing stabilized domestic prices and sufficient reserves. This move ensures continued access to international markets for Kazakh potato producers.

In a significant shift for the meat industry, the Ministry of Agriculture will amend the rules for allocating beef export quotas. The current mechanism, which requires exporters to own feeding facilities for at least 5,000 head of cattle and their own meat processing plants, will be softened. This decision aligns with the government's Comprehensive Livestock Development Plan, which aims to increase the national cattle population from 7.9 million to 12 million head while expanding export potential and opening new markets for Kazakh beef.

However, to protect domestic breeding stock and ensure raw materials for local processors, the commission extended the ban on exporting breeding stock of cattle and small ruminants, as well as young male cattle (bullocks), including to fellow Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states.

A more restrictive measure was adopted for poultry products. A six-month ban on imports of chicken eggs, including from EAEU countries, will be introduced. This decision is backed by strong domestic production figures. Kazakhstan currently operates 70 poultry farms—34 focused on egg production, 29 on meat, and 7 on breeding. In 2025, production of chicken eggs for consumption increased by 2.4%, reaching 4.57 billion units, with domestic supply meeting approximately 98% of local market demand.

The commission also reviewed a proposal to ban imports of railway rolling stock components and track elements from third countries. After hearing positions from domestic component manufacturers, locomotive producers, and consumers like Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company, it was deemed inadvisable to impose such restrictions.

Instead, KTZ was instructed to prioritize purchasing these railway components from domestic manufacturers whenever possible.