As of June 7, 2024, Turkey has lifted a number of import restrictions on meat products from Kazakhstan. These restrictions include avian influenza restrictions in place since 2005, foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in place since 2016, and bovine nodular disease restrictions in place since 2022.

Agriculture Minister Aidalbek Sapalov raised the issue of removing trade barriers in agricultural products during the meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, held in the city of Taraz in March this year.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Saparov also met with Turkish Agriculture Minister Ebbekri Gizligid, expressing Kazakhstan's desire to expand the supply of high-quality meat products to the Turkish, Turkmen and Hungarian markets. At present, however, the Turkish market is almost completely closed to restrictions on Kazakh suppliers in terms of veterinary medicine.

Sapalov noted that China and Russia had already lifted similar restrictions on Kazakhstan this year, so he thought the issue could be revisited with the Turkish side.

The final decision was reached through bilateral negotiations between Amanhari Berdarin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, and A Gumen, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey, during the 91st session of the World Organization for Animal Health in May this year.

The Turkish side analyzed the report submitted by Kazakhstan to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and highly appreciated the efforts and measures taken by Kazakhstan to control and eliminate the above-mentioned diseases.

This decision opens up new prospects for Kazakh agricultural businesses and is an important step in strengthening trade relations between the two countries.