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Tengrinews.kz – Another fine comes into effect in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Trade and Integration provided details.
On March 13, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO) came into effect in Kazakhstan on issues of exceeding the trade markup on socially significant food products. The Ministry of Trade and Integration initiated the changes last year to strengthen price controls.
"The main change concerned the replacement of the penalty for the first violation: instead of a warning, a fine is now provided. This means that for exceeding the established maximum trade markup of 15 percent on significant food products, entrepreneurs will not be warned, as before, but will be immediately fined," the press service of the Ministry of Trade reported.
Previously, for the first violation, an entrepreneur received only a warning, and a fine of 10 to 300 MCI (39 320 - 1.1 million tenge in 2025) was applied only for a repeat violation. After the amendments came into force on March 13, administrative liability for the first violation was tightened:
- for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses - a fine of 5 MCI (19 660 tenge in 2025);
- for medium-sized businesses - 35 MCI (137 620 tenge in 2025);
- for large retail chains - 150 MCI (589 800 tenge).
In case of repeated violation within one calendar year, fines are doubled.
According to the Ministry of Trade, the innovations are designed to ensure price stability for essential products and minimize the risks of unjustified price increases.
The Ministry recalled that the maximum markup on significant food products should remain within 15% and promised to strengthen control over retail outlets.
As of March 20, 1189 decisions have already been recorded, including 70 fines in the amount of more than 5 million tenge, and 1119 warnings.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the price index for the significant food products as of April 1 was 0.3%.
"Last week, prices remained stable for such goods as bread, horns, buckwheat, sunflower oil, kefir and salt. A slight increase was noted for such goods as beef, cabbage and potatoes. The increase in prices for the vegetable group is due to the seasonal factor and storage costs, taking into account the rise in utility tariffs," the Ministry of Trade added.
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