From September 1, 2026, a new edition of the national standard ST RK 1756-2026 'Trade Services. General Requirements', developed by the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is in force in Kazakhstan. The document establishes general requirements for trade services and, for the first time, distinguishes between the concepts of 'wholesale supplier of socially significant food products' and 'unproductive intermediary'.
One of the key areas of the Ministry's workis reducing unproductive intermediary links in the supply chains of socially significant food products (SSFP). Their presence can lead to an unjustified increase in the final cost of products, since certain market participants resell goods.
The new standard defines criteria that make it possible to distinguish between the activities of bona fide wholesale suppliers and unproductive intermediaries.
According to the document, a wholesale supplier of SSFP is recognized as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity that purchases products from manufacturers, importers, or other wholesale suppliers for further sale, taking into account the added value associated with actual costs. Such costs include logistics, storage, delivery, warehouse rent, loading and unloading operations, packaging, utility payments, and imports.
In turn, an unproductive intermediary is recognized as a business entity that resells goods without actually performing documented operations for storage, transportation, processing, packaging, or other operations that change the consumer properties of the goods or ensure the delivery of products to the end consumer.
In accordance with clause 4.4 of the standard, only wholesale suppliers that generate added value justified by real costs may participate in SSFP supply chains. The inclusion of unproductive intermediaries in such chains is not allowed.
The application of the new standard is aimed at increasing price transparency, developing fair competition, and reducing unjustified intermediary links.
It is expected that the implementation of the approaches provided for in the standard will contribute to improving the efficiency of supply chains, curbing unjustified price increases for socially significant food products, and protecting the interests of producers and consumers.
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