General Standards
Turkmenistan’s national standards have been developed to meet international standards. GOST standards were developed by 12 FSU countries and incorporate former Soviet Union standards. Standards and metrology are governed by the Law on Standardization and Metrology of 1993 and a series of by-laws. The Main State Inspectorate “Turkmenstandartlary” is the regulating agency in the area of standards and metrology in Turkmenistan. There are no any other organizations which participate in trade standards organization in the country.
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION
Turkmen legislation requires that all the exported and imported products have to be certified. Gauging equipment also needs to be calibrated by the Main State Inspectorate “Turkmenstandartlary.” In 1998, Turkmenistan introduced a sanitary certification requirement for food products imported into Turkmenistan. The State Sanitary and Epidemiological Inspectorate (SSEI) conducts tests of imported food products to issue certificates of conformance. Certificates of conformance for food products must be accompanied by a Russian-language product description.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
1. Contract registered at the SCRME
The contract should be registered before the goods are delivered to Turkmenistan. Contracts are required to include the specifications of the goods, information on their origin, the currency involved, item price, and total price.
2. Bill of Lading for Maritime Transportation
Cargo Movement Report (CMR) for transportation by truck. Customs officers will check the CMR or Bill of Lading against the information contained in the contract.
3. Certificate of Origin and Quality
The Certificate of the Country of Origin should be obtained from Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the place of origin prior to the departure of goods. The importer is required to receive a certificate of conformance from the Main State Inspectorate “Turkmenstandartlary.”
4. Customs Declaration
Customs declaration and clearance is the responsibility of the party specified in the contract. In most cases, however, the buyer takes on clearance process responsibility. During the customs clearance process, Customs charges a service fee of 0.2 percent of the contract cost. Additional licenses may be required of the buyer, depending on the type of imported product (an alcohol trade license to import alcohol, or a State Radio Frequencies Commission permit to import radio electronics and high frequency devices). Turkmenistan has freelance customs clearance agents, who can assist with customs processing.
5. Commercial Invoice
There is a specific format for the preparation of the commercial invoice and can be written in any language (even though it may be requested a translation in English or Russian). The original must be submitted.
6. Phytosanitary Certificate
Document certifying that all plants and plant products have been inspected according to appropriate procedures, are free from quarantine pests and free from other harmful organisms and are deemed to comply with the phytosanitary regulations of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen authorities accept certificates from a competent authority of a Member State of the European Union, if all relevant information are provided. The phytosanitary certificate may be prepared in any language but a translation in English or Russian may be required.
7. Health Certificate
Health certificate must state that the products of animal origin are not infected and do not transmit any infectious disease. Same process of presentation of the phytosanitary certificate.
8. Certificate of Free Sale
A document that certifies the products can be sold in the country of origin. The certificate is issued by a competent authority or by another institution in the country of origin, such as the Chamber of Commerce. The certificate of free sale can be prepared in any language. However, it is recommended a translation in English or Russian.
TERMS OF IMPORTS
- In the terms of contracts (agreements) concluded for the supply of goods to Turkmenistan, should be taken into account and the Certificate of conformity and the marking label to demonstrate the product's compliance with the requirements. These certificates and marks of conformity must be issued or recognized by the competent body of Turkmenistan.
- The Certificate or a certificate of recognition presented to customs with the customs declaration of goods are necessary to obtain the import of goods into the territory of Turkmenistan.
- Ordering of the entering on the territory of Turkmenistan's market of products subjected to mandatory certification, is established by the authorized body under the laws of Turkmenistan.
LABELING REQUIREMENTS
For each type of food product importer in the country, there is a specific ordinance that spells out labeling requirements. Product specifications must contain a short description of the technological process, the basic quality requirements, report any completed quality testing as well as the data regulated in the "Declaration, Labeling and Marketing of Food" by-law. Labels on foods that have been changed nutritionally for special diets must clearly indicate "dietetic food".
The label must contain the following information:
1) Product name and brand name;
2) List of the ingredients;
3) Quantities of the ingredients;
4) Product net weight;
5) Expiration date;
6) Storage conditions and way of usage if necessary;
7) Importers name and complete address, country of origin, and the country from where the
food is being shipped;
8) Country of origin or from where food was imported;
9) Instruction for correct use of food;
10) Amount of alcohol for beverages that contains more than 1.2% v/v;
11) Lot number;
12) Ingredients that can cause allergies and/or intolerance;
13) Quality and class of the product, if the food is regulated by special categorization and classification rules.
If the original label is in English or Russian languages, the seller is obliged to prepare stick-on labels with a translation to accompany the imported products. It is the importer’s obligation to place those translated labels on the product prior to retail distribution.
CONTACTS
Main State Inspectorate “Turkmenstandartlary”
12 Galkynysh Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 744004
Tel: (993-12) 49-58-59 Fax: (993-12) 51-04-48
