Polish party’s expectations

Deputy Minister Jacek Czerniak reiterated the importance of Polish-Kazakh trade. According to figures for the past year, Poland exported agri-food products worth nearly EUR 107 million to Kazakhstan. He also stressed that the flagship agri-food product sent to the Kazakh market were Polish apples.

– Poland is a key supplier of these fruit to the Kazakh market and plays an important role in meeting Kazakhstan’s import needs in this regard. Therefore, we receive the information as regards the potential ban to be imposed by Kazakhstan on the import of apples with great concern and disapproval. Such action may bring losses both on the part of Polish producers and exporters, as well as customers in Kazakhstan – stressed Deputy Minister Czerniak.

The Secretary of State indicated that from the Polish point of view the decision of the Kazakh authorities was economically ungrounded and had no substantive basis.

– The Kazakh party did not notify the non-compliance of apples sent from Poland with the phytosanitary requirements of this country – reminded the Deputy Minister and pointed out that good cooperation should be based on the principles of stability and mutual trust.

The Deputy Head of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture also referred to restrictions regarding selected goods of animal origin from Poland, which were continued by the Kazakh party. He pointed to the need to intensify constructive dialogue at the level of veterinary services of both countries. He also highlighted the openness of the Polish party in that regard.

Katarzyna Wawrzak, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer present at the meeting, presented in detail the Polish demands regarding lifting the restrictions imposed by Kazakhstan, including both the ban on the import of selected goods to Kazakhstan but also on their transit through Kazakhstan.

Position of the Kazakh party

The Deputy Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Poland, Erzhan Zharylkanov, informed that the objective of the planned ban on the import of apples was to protect the domestic market and was not directed against any country. He reminded that Kazakhstan had introduced a similar ban in October 2024.

In the field of veterinary issues, the Deputy Ambassador confirmed the legitimacy of dialogue at the level of specialists from both countries. The representative of the Kazakh Embassy in Warsaw assured that Polish arguments and concerns would be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.

The meeting was held on the initiative of the Polish party.