Kazakhstan to Ban Fertile Topsoil Exports

Kazakhstan will ban exports of fertile topsoil, while those responsible for soil degradation will be required to cover the cost of restoring it. The measures are included in the new law “On Soil Protection”, Orda.kz reports.

The law prohibits fertile topsoil from being taken outside Kazakhstan. Removed topsoil may be used to reclaim disturbed land, restore degraded areas, improve agricultural land and landscape populated areas.

Restrictions on land use may be imposed based on the results of soil, land-reclamation and agrochemical surveys, soil-quality assessments and monitoring.

Restrictions may cover:

• cultivation of certain crops and non-native plant species;
• use of certain soil-cultivation methods;
• plowing of hayfields and pastures;
• use of degraded, low-productivity and industrially contaminated land.

The cost of restoring degraded soil incurred by landowners and land users must be reimbursed by those whose actions or failure to act caused the damage.

Businesses will be required to monitor how their activities affect soil conditions.

Landowners and land users must allow specialists to access their property to conduct surveys, assess soil quality and carry out monitoring. Information from the database on the agrochemical condition of soil must be publicly accessible.

A special land-use regime may also be introduced to restore damaged soil, including restrictions or bans on certain activities. If soil fertility cannot be restored, the land may be placed under conservation.

The law will take effect on September 8, 2026.

Original author: Alexander Zhdanov

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