Legislation on Baby food products in Kazakhstan

published on 10 October 2024 | reading time approx. 3 minutes

Organizations that produce baby food products in the Republic of Kazakhstan must follow the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Baby food has been defined as “special purpose food products that meet the physiological needs of children's bodies and are intended for the nutrition of children under three years of age”, by the Law on food safety.

Under this law baby food among others is classified as “special purpose food products”, and these special purpose food products must:

meet the requirements established by the food safety legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and technical regulations on special-purpose food products
satisfy physiological needs of the respective groups of buyers (consumers)
correspond in terms of nutritional, biological and energy value to the information specified on the tare (package)

The principles of state regulation in the field of food safety are to make for safe food products for human life and health and the environment in general. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, production (manufacturing), importation and sale of baby food products are allowed only after their state registration, except in cases of production (manufacturing), importation of samples required for registration tests. Baby food products produced (manufactured) for the first time and imported into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the first time are subject to state registration .

State registration shall include:

examination of documents confirming the compliance of the food products with the requirements established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on food product safety, terms of supply
expertise of the results of ongoing scientific and laboratory research
entering into the state registers of baby food products allowed for production (manufacturing), import, use and sale in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan

It is important to note that multiple state registration of food products of one type, one name, manufactured by one manufacturer shall not be allowed. Within the Republic of Kazakhstan, the advertisement of baby food is subject to rigorous regulations. The cornerstone of these regulations is the requirement for all advertised baby food products to possess a valid certificate of state registration. This ensures a baseline level of safety and quality for any baby food promoted within the country. Furthermore, Kazakhstani law specifically forbids the marketing of breast milk substitutes within the country.

However, advertisements for certified baby food are permitted, with specific guidelines in place. The primary language of the advertisement must be Kazakh, the national language of the Republic. Organizations may choose to include an additional language at their discretion. Additionally, the content of the advertisement must be clear, truthful, and readily understood by the intended audience. It should avoid requiring specialized knowledge for interpretation and should never mislead consumers through deceptive claims about product characteristics, composition, or any other aspect.

The baby food industry faces a frequently changing regulatory landscape, with standards and legislations evolving and emerging often. Ensuring the safety and quality of products for infants and the prosperity of the businesses in the field necessitates a thorough understanding of these regulations and strict adherence to them.

It is imperative to emphasize that the production and distribution of baby food are subject to a comprehensive set of legal obligations. This article does not purport to provide an exhaustive overview of all relevant regulations but rather offers a general framework for understanding the key legal considerations in this sector.

We recognize the importance of navigating these complexities. If you're involved in the baby food industry and require assistance with understanding or complying with current regulations, we will be glad to help you navigate these requirements. Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information.