Kazakhstan has introduced new rules targeting unnecessary intermediaries in food supply chains. Since September 1, 2026, the national standard ST RK 1756-2026, "Trade Services. General Requirements," has been in force, establishing criteria to distinguish legitimate wholesale suppliers from businesses that resell essential food products without providing additional services. The measure forms part of the Ministry of Trade and Integration's efforts to improve pricing transparency and protect consumers, DKNews.kz reports.
For the first time, the national standard formally distinguishes between a wholesale supplier of socially significant food products (SSFP) and an unproductive intermediary. The objective is to prevent unnecessary resale transactions from increasing the prices consumers pay for essential groceries.
What changes under the new food trade standard?
The revised standard introduces clearer requirements for businesses participating in the supply chains of socially significant food products.
Its central principle is straightforward: wholesale suppliers must provide genuine economic value rather than simply purchase and resell goods at a higher price.
Under clause 4.4 of ST RK 1756-2026, only wholesale suppliers whose added value is supported by actual costs may participate in these supply chains. The inclusion of unproductive intermediaries is not permitted under the standard.
This distinction is intended to make it easier to identify businesses that perform necessary distribution functions and those that introduce additional markups without contributing to the delivery or handling of products.
Who qualifies as a legitimate wholesale supplier?
According to the standard, a wholesale supplier of socially significant food products may be an individual entrepreneur or a legal entity purchasing goods from manufacturers, importers or other wholesalers for subsequent resale.
However, the supplier must generate added value through actual business activities and associated expenses.
Recognized costs include:
- Transportation, logistics and delivery.
- Storage and warehouse rental.
- Loading and unloading operations.
- Packaging and product handling.
- Utility payments associated with operations.
- Import-related expenses.
These activities contribute to moving products from producers to retailers and ultimately to consumers.
The new approach recognizes that legitimate wholesale distribution involves costs. The issue is not the existence of intermediaries themselves, but whether they perform documented services that justify their role in the supply chain.
Which intermediaries are considered unproductive?
The standard defines an unproductive intermediary as a business entity that resells goods without actually performing documented operations related to their storage, transportation, processing, packaging or delivery.
Such businesses do not undertake activities that change the consumer properties of products or help ensure their delivery to the final consumer.
For example, a company that purchases a shipment of essential food products and immediately resells it at a higher price without providing transportation, storage or other services could fall within the standard's definition of an unproductive intermediary.
By contrast, a wholesaler that operates warehouses, organizes transportation and handles distribution expenses performs functions recognized under the new requirements.
The distinction is based on the actual activities carried out and their documentary confirmation, rather than simply the number of companies involved in a transaction.
Why Kazakhstan is targeting unnecessary food markups
The Ministry of Trade and Integration has identified the reduction of unproductive intermediary links as an important part of its efforts to stabilize prices for socially significant food products.
When goods pass through multiple resale transactions, each additional participant may introduce another markup.
If those transactions do not involve genuine distribution services, they can increase the final retail price without improving product availability or delivery efficiency.
The revised standard is intended to address this problem by introducing clearer criteria for participation in essential food supply chains.
It also provides a more transparent basis for assessing the economic role of wholesale suppliers.
What does the new standard mean for businesses?
For wholesalers, the revised requirements place greater emphasis on demonstrating the services they actually provide.
Businesses involved in the distribution of socially significant food products will need to distinguish genuine operating expenses from resale transactions that do not generate additional value.
Companies providing logistics, warehousing, transportation and other necessary services fall within the standard's definition of productive wholesale suppliers, provided their activities and associated costs can be substantiated.
The standard does not mean that all intermediaries are prohibited. It specifically targets businesses that participate in supply chains without performing documented functions that justify their involvement.
The information released by the Ministry does not specify new fines or separate penalties introduced solely by ST RK 1756-2026. Any enforcement measures must be considered within the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
Will food prices fall in Kazakhstan?
The Ministry expects the new approach to improve supply chain efficiency, encourage fair competition and help contain unjustified price increases.
For consumers, the intended benefit is greater transparency in how the cost of essential groceries develops between the producer and the retail shelf.
However, the introduction of the standard does not automatically guarantee lower prices.
Food costs also depend on production expenses, transportation tariffs, storage conditions, seasonal supply, imports and market competition.
The potential impact of the new rules will therefore depend on how effectively the requirements are applied and whether unnecessary resale transactions are actually eliminated.
A new approach to food price transparency
ST RK 1756-2026 represents a shift toward evaluating the economic substance of wholesale transactions rather than treating every intermediary in the same way.
By distinguishing suppliers that provide genuine services from businesses that merely resell products, Kazakhstan aims to make essential food supply chains more transparent and efficient.
The standard also supports the Ministry's broader objectives of protecting producers and consumers while promoting fair competition in the domestic food market.
Its effectiveness will ultimately be measured by whether it helps reduce unnecessary costs without disrupting legitimate wholesale distribution.
Earlier, we reported on food suppliers being penalized for excessive markups in Kazakhstan. Inspections in the Karaganda Region revealed violations involving dairy products, vegetables, eggs and buckwheat, illustrating the broader challenges of maintaining transparent pricing for socially significant food products.
