What Kazakhstani Businesses Should Know About Marking of Goods

Businesses have to acquire special equipment to make marking on their packaging. Even though entrepreneurs are forced to spend some money, the final value of their products won’t necessarily be higher. Usually, equipment accounts for a rate from 0.06 to 0.15% of a product’s price, according to Olzhas Bekturov, head of the Center of Digital Economy Development.

There are lots of factors that can affect retail prices. Over the last five years, prices of dairy products with no marking have increased by a rate of 6% to 13%. 

«The fact that retail prices tend to rise proves that marking of goods won’t affect the final cost of products. At the same time, a consumer can expect that the product he buys has good quality,» Bekturov said. 

According to the center, seven dairy producers are participants in the pilot project on dairy products marking. The cost of marking equipment varies from $1,100 to $21,500 depending on the size of a certain business and what it produces.

Another option for small businesses is to order marking from a printing house. In this case, there is no need to buy any sophisticated equipment and a business can cut costs of marking up to four times.

What Is the Purpose of the Marking

As Bekturov has noted, the marking of goods is a powerful tool to fight unfair competition because a consumer can track the movement of products and be sure that the product is not fake. 

«With the help of marking, we can track dairy products, which were sent from a producer down to a certain shop. We also know when each specific product leaves the turnover, so producers and the government can predict the demand to adjust production of certain products,» he said. 

In Kazakhstan, tobacco and fur ware are already subjects for digital marking. Starting from July 1, 2021, digital marking will also cover shoes. Moreover, Kazakhstani authorities currently test marking of drugs, alcohol beverages and garment industry products.