Duty-free import of electric cars, veterinary care and further automation of integration business processes

The regular meeting of the EEC Council held in Moscow adopted a number of decisions removing barriers to integration and simplifying trade and economic relations between the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Kazakhstan is progressively expanding the list of goods purchased within the framework of public procurement of the EAEU member states. Added another item - clothing and accessories, including gloves, gloves made of rubber. Recall that in the current year was provided access of domestic businessmen to public procurement of other EAEU member states for 63 types of goods. In addition, the possibility to use ST-1 certificate for 276 commodity items, where uniform conditions of production and technological operations are not provided for, was extended for 1 year.

Makes amendments to the unified procedure for veterinary control at the customs border and on the territories of EEU Member States. In particular, a number of terms have been adjusted, forms of veterinary certificates and conditions for the import and movement of veterinary, medicinal, diagnostic, disinfectant and other products and feed additives have been defined. Norms regarding the organisation of laboratory tests during veterinary inspection have also been supplemented.

The EEC Council approved quotas for duty-free imports of beef to the EAEU countries for 2024. Taking into account that Kazakhstan's own production of this type of meat almost completely covers the domestic demand, the quota size for our country is one of the minimum - 5 thousand tonnes (Russia - up to 100 thousand tonnes, Armenia - up to 8.5 thousand tonnes, Belarus - up to 7.5 thousand tonnes, Kyrgyzstan - up to 3.5 thousand tonnes). Additional volumes of imported beef will be directed for processing. This measure is expected to reduce the cost of sausages and other meat products in the country.

Duty-free importation of electric vehicles into EAEU member states has been extended for two years (until 31 December 2025). This will contribute to the further development of the electric vehicle market, the development of charging infrastructure and the improvement of the environmental situation in major cities.

The draft order of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on the preparation next year of a roadmap for the implementation of the Declaration «Eurasian Economic Way», which is also planned to be approved by the Supreme Council at the end of December this year, has been agreed upon. This document, among other things, declares further development of the sphere of technical regulation and standardisation within the framework of the EAEU law, aimed at striving to produce safe and competitive products. The wording does not imply unification or harmonisation of standards and transfer of quality issues to the supranational level, as one of the main principles of technical regulation in the EAEU Treaty is explicitly enshrined the principle of voluntary application.

The November EEC Council also approved a new version of the rules for issuing licences and permits for exports and imports of goods subject to non-tariff regulation measures in trade with third countries. The changes allow countries that are ready to switch to electronic document flow in an automated mode to issue licences automatically.

The next meeting of the EEC Council will be held online on 12 December. It will be the final one in 2023.