Labeling and Traceability of Goods in Kazakhstan
Labeling and traceability of goods in Kazakhstan are introduced and mandated so that businesses will have equal competitive advantages, consumers will be confident in the quality of products, and the market will come out of the “shadow” and become transparent.
Timeline of Regulatory Development:
In September 2015, The Health Ministry of Kazakhstan issued guidelines on product labeling and requirements for accessing a centralized portal for uploading data. The same year in November 2015, they collaborated with GS1 on a pilot project for a national drug traceability system. This system is called IS MPT.
As per the Naqty Onim website, In September 2019, the first pilot projects started. In March 2020, Methodological recommendations for the labeling of medicines were approved, and a list of participants in the pilot project and medicines subject to labeling within its framework was determined. In October 2020, A comprehensive plan for the development of the pharmaceutical and medical industry for 2020–2025 was approved by the Order of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated October 6, 2020 No. 132-R, which includes issues of drug labeling. In July 2021, The pilot project ended.
Kazakhstan is planning to establish mandatory labeling and tracking of drugs by 2024 with a phased approach. Kazakhstan’s goal is to implement 100% of Serialization by 2025.
What is IS MPT?
The information system for labeling and traceability of goods in Kazakhstan is called IS MPT. It is operated by Kazakhtelecom JSC (Kazakhstan’s largest telecom company).
IS MPT is similar to CRPT of Russia and CRPT Turon of Uzbekistan.
What is the goal of IS MPT?
The goal of IS MPT is divided into three parts: automation, awareness, and transparency.
Automation: To automate the supply chain participant’s labeling process.
Awareness: To raise consumer awareness about the quality of purchased products.
Transparency: To assist the State in the transparency of production and trade operations.
What are the two major components of IS MPT?
IS MPT has two major components:
1. National Product Catalog(NKT)
The National Product Catalog(NKT) was developed by the Unified Operator of Labeling and Traceability of Goods.
It serves as an information resource and as a mandatory reference book while carrying out the process of labeling and traceability of products.
2. Order Management Station(OCS)
Order Management Station(OCS) serves as an IS MPT platform to generate and issue data matrix codes to the orders received from manufacturers, importers, or distributors.
The information about participant registration, data matrix code generation, data matrix code application, product put into circulation, product transfer, and withdrawal from circulation are all included in IS MPT.
Before we learn about the process of labeling and traceability of goods in Kazakhstan, let’s look into the most important part of labeling and traceability i.e. Data Matrix Code.
What is Data Matrix code?
A Data Matrix is a two-dimensional code (2D barcode), consisting of black and white “cells” or modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern, also known as a matrix. DataMatrix code can store 2335 alphanumeric characters, 3,116 numerical characters, or 1556 bytes of information. Data matrix codes are used in the labeling and traceability, to protect consumers from counterfeit and falsified products.
What is included in the Data Matrix codes used for labeling and traceability of goods in Kazakhstan?
A Data Matrix Code has 4 important data points included in it, which are as below:
GTIN: Global Trade Item Number is a 14-digit product code.
Serial Number: A randomized serial number is a 13-character identifier
Verification Key (4 characters) generated by IS MPT.
Verification Code (44 characters) generated by IS MPT.
The maximum cost to receive one data matrix code from IS MPT will be 2.68 tenge ($0.0058) without VAT.
Process of labeling and tracking of goods in Kazakhstan
- Manufacturers, Importers, or Distributors register with IS MPT and create a product card in the National Product Catalog (NKT).
- They send a request to the Order Management Station (OCS) to process an order for data matrix codes.
- The Order Management Station(OCS) processes the order and sends the code to them.
- Manufacturers, Importers, or Distributors receive the code and label it on the product for circulation.
- Product circulates through the supply chain participants (warehouses and distributors) to the Store.
- The store scans the code and places the product on the shelf.
- The Cash Register scans the product code and the product is sold to the consumer.The information on product withdrawal from circulation is sent from the Cash Register to IS MPT.
- The Consumer can use the Naqty Onim app to scan the code on the package, verify the authenticity of the product, find the product details, and report discrepancies.
NAQTY SAUDA.AKT
Naqty Sauda.AKT app is used for the following purposes:
- Processing the documents in transit.
- Accepting the marking codes from other participants in the Turnover of Goods (GTC). Participants in the Turnover of Goods (GTC) are manufacturers, importers, distributors or retail representatives registered in the IS MPT.
- Generating documents of discrepancy.
- Gaining access to information about the documents through IS MPT.
- Removing the marked product from circulation.
Conclusion
Through this blog, we tried to explain the Labeling and Traceability of Goods in Kazakhstan and its regulatory timelines, IS MPT, National Product Catalog(NKT), Order Management Station(OCS), Data Matrix Code and its data points, Labelling and Traceability Process, NAQTY ONIM and NAQTY SAUDA.AKT.
SS DATACODE® offers labeling and traceability solutions for fulfilling the regulatory requirements of Kazakhstan. To know more about the labeling and traceability of goods in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia we request you to get in touch with us at [email protected] or visit our Contact Us page.
