EXPORT LICENSE – BARRIER FOR FARMERS
June 14, 2022
According to the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Agriculture intends to introduce a license for export products. Most farmers oppose the norm. According to farmers, licensing is the same as introducing new restrictions on business.
The issues of licensing the export and import of agricultural products were discussed by farmers and representatives of state bodies at the site of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken”.
Separately, agrarians focused on the “paper” issue: today, for export, they have to collect an impressive bundle of documents. And without obtaining a new type of license, enough time and finances are spent: there are many requirements for the export of goods. Farmers say that if quotas are already causing enough trouble for farmers, then licensing will also become a limitation for business development.
Director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Complex of the National Chamber, Yerbol Yeseneev, noted that there are also a lot of questions from industry unions and associations regarding licenses for export and import.
“Over the past year and a half, there have been problems with sugar quotas, restrictions on millet have been introduced. Now entrepreneurs have a lot of questions related to business control, issuance of licenses,” said Yerbol Yeseneev.
According to Nazgul Khatepova, director of the Department of Agri-Food Markets and Processing of Agricultural Products of the Ministry of Agriculture, the agency tried to simplify the procedure for issuing export licenses as much as possible.
“The issuance of a license itself consists of two stages. The first is limited distribution by quantity. The second is the issuance of the certificate itself. For the convenience of exporters, we have included all the requirements in one order and specified in one rule. An entrepreneur applies only once. The period for issuing a license has also been reduced. With such changes, we turned to the authorized bodies and entrepreneurs. If there are any proposals, please discuss and send them as soon as possible,” said Nazgul Khatepova.
Also, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture said that licensing is being considered within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
As a result, the opinions of entrepreneurs regarding the introduction of export licenses were divided. Some farmers suggest not to rush to conclusions, to observe the licensing process. Opponents insist that the agro-industrial complex will face additional restrictions on business and will have to deal with the consequences. In addition, the ultimate goal of the license is not clear to the business.
“If an interdepartmental commission without the participation of business makes any decision and does not make a preliminary analysis, then we are against an export license. Let the Ministry of Agriculture explain what benefits it will bring to business,” said Kairat Beisetayev, president of the Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers.