30 Nov 2022 09:25

Kazakhstan seeks to simplify access to Russian market for fertilizer

MOSCOW. Nov 30 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has asked Russia to simplify access to its market for Kazakh fertilizer.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Serik Zhumangarin discussed this issue on the sidelines of the X-VIII forum on interregional cooperation between the two countries in Orenburg, the Kazakh government's press service reported.

Kazakh mineral fertilizers are subject to mandatory certification under national technical regulations and are registered as chemical products, and in Russia they undergo the process of state registration for pesticides and agricultural chemicals.

"Russia is our country's largest trading partner. There are producers of complex fertilizers in Kazakhstan who are interested in exporting fertilizers to Russia, but there are many procedural barriers. These are long registration periods, which sometimes take up to two years, expensive tests, the need to obtain various conclusions from the state bodies of the Russian Federation. And the result of registration is not guaranteed," Zhumangarin was quoted as saying in the press release.

He proposed that information contained in the safety data sheet of Kazakh manufacturers should be recognized when products are registered in Russia and only bioefficiency tests should be carried out. He also suggested reducing the number of procedural questions from watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, and slashing the time for reviewing materials and issuing an opinion by the Russian Agriculture Ministry to one month from six months.

Overchuk and Zhumangarin also discussed Russian forestry exports to Kazakhstan.

"One of the key issues raised by the Kazakh side was cooperation in the supply of timber to Kazakhstan. In particular, the rise in their cost and delays due to the need for deliveries exclusively by rail. Traditionally, timber, like roundwood, was supplied to Kazakhstan by road. However, recently the Russian side has notified of its intention to allow export only by rail," the press service said.