July 15, 2025

Kazakh minister proposes criminal liability for sale of meat that skips inspections

Kazakhstan's Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, has proposed introducing criminal liability for the sale of meat that bypasses veterinary and sanitary inspections.

Speaking at a government meeting, Saparov emphasised that Kazakhstan is undertaking large-scale efforts to digitise its livestock industry. Each farm animal now receives an individual identification number, with all veterinary procedures recorded in an electronic system. However, the minister warned that the system's effectiveness depends on livestock owners maintaining accurate and transparent records.

"We must strengthen oversight of livestock registration and tighten accountability, up to criminal liability, for unscrupulous livestock suppliers and buyers of animal products without proper veterinary documentation," Saparov stated.

He cited recent cases of underground slaughterhouses as a significant public health concern. In December 2024, two unlicensed facilities were discovered in Astana, distributing unregulated meat across the country. Similar operations were uncovered in Semey and Shymkent in spring 2025.

Currently, criminal penalties in Kazakhstan apply only to cattle theft. Violations of veterinary and sanitary rules—unless they result in serious harm to human health—are punished administratively.

Since the beginning of 2025, 64 veterinary checkpoints have inspected 28,500 vehicles transporting meat. Violations were identified in 547 cases, resulting in administrative fines for the owners.

- The Times of Central Asia