Serik Zhumangarin took part in the meeting of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission

At the regular meeting of the EEC Council, held in Moscow on December 14, 2022 in person, positive decisions were made on two significant issues raised by the Kazakh delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin.

The first issue is the replacement of the term «dangerous products» with «products that do not meet the requirements of technical regulations» in the Agreement regulating the principles and approaches of conducting state control over compliance with the requirements of the technical regulations of the EAEU. This document was signed in February 2021, provides for the creation of an information system for the exchange of information about dangerous products. And this definition covers a wide range of violations of the requirements of technical regulations that do not actually affect the safety of goods. For example, a loose label sticker, an error in translation on the label, a discrepancy in composition, energy efficiency and other parameters. Kazakhstani entrepreneurs have repeatedly indicated that food, gasoline can get into the information system with the status «dangerous», and even after the exclusion of goods from this register, such a status will negatively affect the reputation of the manufacturer in the future.

Following the discussion at the meeting, the members of the EEC Council unanimously approved the instruction according to which the draft protocol with the change of the term «dangerous products» to «products that do not meet the requirements of technical regulations» should be sent for domestic approval by December 31, 2022.

An active discussion was caused by the issues raised by the Kazakh side regarding the operation of electronic passport systems. As a result of the negotiations, the Kazakh side proposed to coordinate the draft instruction of the EEC Board, which provides for the continuation of work to ensure the possibility of issuing passports, registering vehicles based on electronic passports or extracts from them in a single form for self-propelled vehicles and other types of equipment. Plus, the definition of the features of registration of electronic passports for vehicles that are imported by individuals for personal use. The draft protocol also includes the development of conditions for the order of information interaction on the composition of information to be exchanged, conditions and deadlines for the submission of information. The members of the Board supported this document, agreeing to continue discussing systemic issues of interaction of information systems in January next year and at the level of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

One of the significant issues resolved is the approval of amendments to the EAEU Treaty to establish a unified approach in the participating countries to the procedure for introducing emergency phytosanitary measures against harmful organisms not included in the Unified List of Quarantine Facilities, but representing a phytosanitary risk for the customs territory of the Union. The draft protocol on amendments to the agreement has been sent by the Council for internal procedures. The entry into force of these amendments will minimize the risk of barriers in mutual trade of the Member States and increase the phytosanitary security of the customs territory of the Union.