Kazakhstan to start frozen meat exports to Iran in 2024

ASTANA. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Astana and Tehran have inked an agreement for the export of frozen meat to Iran, the Kazakhstan Agriculture Ministry press service said.

The deal marks a change from Kazakhstan only supplying chilled meat, which could be stored for up to 3 days in Iran.

The Ministry expects deliveries to start next year. The memorandum was signed in Tehran by Mojtaba Norouzi, Deputy Minister and Head of the Veterinary Organization of Iran, and Amangaliy Berdalin, Kazakhstan's Deputy Agriculture Minister of Agriculture.

"The agreement opens up new export avenues for frozen meat from domestic livestock breeders. In response to Kazakhstan's request to extend the shelf life of fresh cattle meat in vacuum packaging from 3 to 16 days, the Iranian side has sought scientific documentation. The Iranian veterinary organization will review these documents in the technical committee for import and export," the Kazakh ministry said.

Iran is expected to set out veterinary and sanitary rules for importing frozen boneless beef from Kazakhstan. Talks will also cover the potential inclusion of Iranian dairy companies in the list of third countries allowed to import into the Eurasian Economic Union and Kazakhstan.