Overview of Key Points and Documentation Requirements for Pesticide Registration in Kazakhstan, a Major Agricultural Nation in Central Asia

Amid the wave of agricultural globalization, Kazakhstan, as a major agricultural power in Central Asia, boasts a pesticide market with enormous potential.

1. Overview of Crop Cultivation in Kazakhstan

Main growing areas

Kazakhstan is divided into 14 regions. Based on differences in natural conditions and climate, it is further subdivided into four major agricultural zones: eastern, western, southern, and northern.

Data source: Regulations on Pesticide Registration Trials (Small-Scale and Production-Scale) and Pesticide Registration Approval

Area under cultivation of major crops

Data sources: USDA and State Statistical Agency of Kazakhstan, updated on May 12, 2025.

Trends in the Production of Major Crops

Data sources: USDA and State Statistical Agency of Kazakhstan, updated on May 12, 2025.

Major Crop Growing Cycle

Data sources: USDA and State Statistical Agency of Kazakhstan, updated on May 12, 2025.

2. Pesticide Registration in Kazakhstan

Pesticide Management Department

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Pesticide Management Regulations

The Plant Protection Law, Decree No. 331-II of June 3, 2002.

“Regulations on Pesticide Registration Trials (Small-Scale and Industrial Types) and Pesticide Registration Approval,” revised on June 15, 2023.

Type of Pesticide Registration Certificate

1) Same-product registration: Pesticide formulations whose active ingredients have already been registered in Kazakhstan.

2) New Product Registration: Pesticide formulations containing new active ingredients.

3) Extension Registration: A type of registration that expands the scope of application for an already registered product, such as adding new crops or new pests and diseases.

4) Renewal Registration: This is the registration category for products that have already obtained certification and must submit a renewal application three months prior to the expiration of their certificate.

5) Registration Amendment: The applicant requests to change the registrant, amend or add suppliers, etc.

6) Temporary Registration: The temporary registration of special pesticides shall be valid for a period not exceeding two years.

Overview of the Registration Procedure

1) Submit applications for pesticide registration (for small-scale and production purposes) and national registration by February 1 each year;

2) The Ministry of Agriculture reviews and approves the trial permit and issues the import license for the trial samples.

3) Organize pesticide registration trials (for small-scale applications and production) and conduct residue and toxicological assessments;

4) The implementing agency conducts pesticide registration trials (for small-scale applications and production) as well as residue and toxicological assessments.

5) Review the results of pesticide registration trials (small-scale and production‑scale) and reports on pesticide residues and toxicological assessments;

6) Review the registrant’s (applicant’s) registration file;

7) Coordinate the national registration of pesticides with the authorized agencies in the field of environmental protection and with the state institutions in the fields of public health and epidemiology.

8) Obtain national registration;

9) Issue pesticide registration certificates;

10) In accordance with the regulations, pesticides shall be included in the National Pesticide Register, the Pesticide List, and the Supplementary Pesticide List.

Key Points for Registration

1) The deadline for submitting registration trial applications is February 1 each year. Applications must be filed either in person or by mail with the competent pesticide registration authority.

2) Upon completion of the registration dossier, the case file may be submitted through the “E‑Government” portal. All documents shall be provided in electronic format, with original notarized copies of certain documents also required.

3) All application documents must be in Russian or Kazakh. If the original documents are in another language, a translation is required.

4) Efficacy Trials: For the same product and for biopesticides, two years of efficacy trials (both small‑scale and large‑scale) are required; the first‑season efficacy trial must include a residue study. New products require two years of small‑scale trials and one year of production‑scale (large‑scale) trials. Trial site numbers and climatic zones vary depending on the product and the registered crop.

5) Pesticides registered in Kazakhstan do not require registration in their country of origin; however, the product manufacturer must be identical to the certified manufacturer.

6) The applicant may be a non‑Kazakhstani company, but must register with the Kazakh e‑government portal.

7) The registered name and the trade name of a pesticide may differ, but each registration is permitted to have only one trade name, and no changes to the trade name are allowed.

8) The temporary registration certificate is valid for no more than 2 years, while the formal registration is valid for 10 years.

9) Kazakh registration does not require a domestic ICAMA, but it does require both an active‑ingredient manufacturing license and a finished‑product manufacturing license; the manufacturing licenses must be notarized.

Registration Information Requirements

Registration approval time

1) Formal pesticide registration: 18 working days;

2) Expanding the scope of use for registered pesticides – 18 working days;

3) Temporary registration of pesticides – 18 working days;

4) Changing or adding a registered pesticide manufacturer, provided that the manufacturing formula and process remain unchanged—30 working days;

5) Renewal registration – 18 working days;

6) Change of registrant (applicant) – 30 working days;

7) Change of the registrant’s (applicant’s) name – 30 working days.

Registration Applicant

1) A company that is officially registered in Kazakhstan and has obtained a business license.

2) Subsidiaries or representative offices established in Kazakhstan by foreign agrochemical companies.

3) Foreign companies may also apply for pesticide registration without establishing a representative office or branch; however, they must file their company information on the government portal and obtain an EDS (Electronic Digital Signature).

Registration Period

1) For the same product, the period from the date of submission of the pharmacodynamic study application to approval is 24–28 months.

2) From the date of submission of the efficacy study application for a new product, it takes 36–40 months.

Source: WeChat Official Account: Tianyu Agriculture