Kazakhstan to Create State Company for Trading Saiga-Derived Products

Kazakhstan's Senate has approved a law on ecology and several economic sectors, including a provision to establish a state-owned operator for trading products derived from saigas, Orda.kz reports.

The law defines the role of a state operator that will manage the trade of saiga derivatives, meaning parts of the animal and products made from them, such as horns, skins and meat. The saiga antelope is a critically endangered steppe species native to Central Asia and historically protected under international conservation frameworks.

The document also amends the Land, Forestry, Entrepreneurial, Environmental and Water Codes.

Other provisions cover digitalization of the environmental sector, waste management, recycling and climate regulation, as well as the work of Kazhydromet, the national weather and environmental monitoring agency.

The law shortens the timeline for obtaining environmental permits and conclusions for investment and hydrocarbon exploration projects, with the exception of offshore hydrocarbon exploration. It also clarifies procedures for state environmental reviews and public hearings.

Local akimats, the regional administrative bodies, will gain authority to organize municipal waste collection, sorting and disposal sites. The law also aims to improve waste accounting and secondary resource recycling.

The amendments additionally expand the functions of the ROP operator, the body responsible for extended producer responsibility, allowing it to support early fire detection logistics across state forest areas.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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