If Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are not yet on your export radar, they probably should be. Both countries have been attracting growing international attention — not only for their economic dynamism, but also for their increasingly strategic geopolitical position.
Kazakhstan is pushing ahead with an $80 billion infrastructure investment plan running to 2029, actively courting European companies through Kazakh Invest, and cementing its role as a key logistics hub on the new trade routes connecting Europe and China. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, has set itself the ambitious target of doubling its GDP by 2030 and has been attracting an unprecedented level of international capital — including from major names such as Citibank and JPMorgan. In December 2025, President Trump personally invited both countries’ leaders to the G-20 summit in Miami, a symbolic recognition of their rising profile on the world stage. As Bloomberg recently reported, Uzbekistan is attracting global investors at a pace that few would have predicted just a few years ago.
For exporters, the opportunity is real — but accessing these markets requires navigating their certification systems, which are distinct from each other and from the frameworks most European companies are used to. This post explains how they work, how they compare, and what you need to know before your first shipment.
What Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Have in Common
Both countries share a common historical starting point. As former Soviet republics, both inherited the GOST system of technical standards — a family of regulations that governed product safety and quality across the USSR and which, in various national forms, continues to influence certification requirements across the region today.
For most industrial products, the practical starting point when exporting to either country is the EAC Marking — the conformity mark of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which functions as the region’s equivalent of CE Marking in Europe.
But this is where the similarity ends. Kazakhstan is a full member of the EAEU. Uzbekistan is not. This single fact has profound practical consequences for exporters, and it defines everything that follows.
Exporting to Kazakhstan: EAC First, GOST K for the Gaps
Because Kazakhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, the EAC Marking is the primary reference framework for the vast majority of industrial products. If your company already exports to Russia, Belarus, Armenia or Kyrgyzstan, there is a good chance you already hold the documentation you need for Kazakhstan too.
An EAC Declaration of Conformity or an EAC Certificate of Conformity issued under the applicable CU TRs is fully valid for customs clearance in Kazakhstan — no additional national certification is required. For serial production, these documents can be valid for up to five years, and the cost is generally medium-low compared to other certification systems in the region.
Practical tip: When preparing your EAC Declaration, include as many models and series as possible within the same document. This is one of the most effective ways to avoid repeating the certification process each time you introduce a new product variant — and it is a strategy that pays off particularly well in a market like Kazakhstan, where project-based procurement often requires rapid additions to a product range.
For a detailed overview of how to approach the Kazakhstani market, including the regulatory landscape and practical steps, see our guide: How to Export to Kazakhstan — GOST K ROK Certification.
When GOST K Is Required
For most products, EAC certification is sufficient. However, some product categories fall outside the scope of the Eurasian Technical Regulations (CU TRs) and remain governed by Kazakhstan’s national system: GOST K, also known as GOST ROK (where ROK stands for Republic of Kazakhstan).
The most common GOST K certification is the fire safety certificate, which operates in a similar way to its Russian equivalent (GOST R). Another frequently required national certification is the metrological certificate, applicable to measuring instruments — which in many cases must be tested in an accredited Kazakhstani laboratory or directly at the customer’s facility.
If you are bidding for projects in Kazakhstan and are unsure whether your product requires EAC, GOST K or both, the safest approach is to verify with a specialist before investing in the certification process.
Exporting to Uzbekistan: A Different System Entirely
Uzbekistan is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. This means that EAC certification, while useful as a technical reference, carries no legal weight at Uzbekistani customs. To export to Uzbekistan, you need to work within a completely separate national framework: GOST UZ, also known as GOST UZB.
Our full guide on the Uzbekistani market and its certification requirements is here: How to Export to Uzbekistan — GOST UZ Certification.
The GOST UZ Certificate of Conformity
The standard certification document for Uzbekistan is the GOST UZ Certificate of Conformity. This can be mandatory — required for customs clearance — or voluntary, serving as proof of product quality without being a legal prerequisite for import.
One of the most significant practical differences from the EAC system is validity: while an EAC Declaration for serial production can cover up to five years, GOST UZ certificates are typically issued for a single contract. This means that each new delivery or project may require a new certification process — a factor that directly affects both planning timelines and costs, which are generally medium to high.
Practical tip: Before investing in certification for Uzbekistan, always ask your importer or end customer exactly what they require. Requirements can vary significantly depending on the buyer, the sector and the specific project. What is mandatory for one contract may not be required for another.
The Two Key Exceptions
The GOST UZ system is not without flexibility. Two important exceptions allow exporters to access the Uzbekistani market with reduced or alternative certification requirements:
1. Special Economic Zones. Uzbekistan has established a number of special economic zones where simplified import procedures apply. Within these zones, GOST UZ certificates are not required — though documentation is still needed for customs purposes.
2. Large-Scale Industrial Projects. This is the exception that most frequently applies to exporters of industrial machinery and equipment. When a machine or piece of equipment forms part of a larger system or installation, it is common practice for Uzbekistani authorities to accept a Technical Passport for Uzbekistan in lieu of a full GOST UZ certification. The Technical Passport is a technical document prepared by the manufacturer that provides the key specifications, installation conditions and operational parameters of the product, and it serves as the valid customs clearance document for the component.
This exception is particularly relevant for companies supplying equipment as part of infrastructure, energy or industrial projects — sectors that are among the fastest-growing in Uzbekistan today. Without a Technical Passport, the equipment cannot be imported, even when the project-level certification covers the overall system.
A Modernising Regulatory Framework
It is also worth noting that Uzbekistan has been actively modernising its regulatory framework over the past decade, introducing Technical Regulations modelled on the EAC system for a growing number of product categories — including machinery, pressure equipment, equipment for explosive atmospheres (ATEX-equivalent), telecommunications equipment, drinking water systems, food-contact packaging, and others. For measuring instruments, a mandatory Metrological Certificate is also required, and this must be carried out in an accredited laboratory.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Kazakhstan | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Reference framework | EAC (EAEU member) | GOST UZ (non-EAEU) |
| Most common certification | EAC Declaration of Conformity | GOST UZ Certificate of Conformity |
| Validity | Up to 5 years (serial production) | Single contract |
| Cost | Medium-low | Medium to high |
| EAC valid at customs? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Exceptions | Few exempt products | Special economic zones; Technical Passport for large-scale projects |
| Key tip | Include all models and series in the Declaration | Always ask the importer/customer what they require |
Industrial Machinery: A Practical Example
Industrial machinery is one of the most commonly exported product categories to both countries, and it illustrates the differences between the two systems particularly well.
For Kazakhstan, the standard path is an EAC Certification for Industrial Machinery, typically via an EAC Declaration of Conformity under CU TR 010/2011 (Machinery Safety), CU TR 004/2011 (Low Voltage Equipment) and, where applicable, CU TR 020/2011 (Electromagnetic Compatibility). A minority of machines — roughly 12% — require an EAC Certificate of Conformity instead, with mandatory accredited laboratory testing.
For Uzbekistan, the route depends on the project context. If the machine is sold as a standalone unit, a GOST UZ Certificate of Conformity is required. If it is supplied as part of a larger installation, a Technical Passport for Uzbekistan is typically accepted instead.
In both cases, a Technical Passport and a User Manual in Russian are mandatory. For EAC certification of machinery, a Safety Justification is also required — a technical document that identifies the hazards present in the machine’s design, explains how risks have been minimised, and demonstrates that the equipment can operate safely throughout its lifecycle.
Do I Need to Certify Separately for Each Country?
This is one of the most common questions from exporters approaching both markets simultaneously.
If you already hold EAC certification, it is valid in Kazakhstan without any additional process or cost. It is not valid in Uzbekistan, where a separate GOST UZ certification is required.
If you are exporting to both countries, you will need two separate processes. However, the good news is that the technical documentation prepared for EAC — test reports, technical files, Safety Justification, Technical Passport — can largely be reused as the basis for the GOST UZ process, reducing both the time and cost of the second certification.
If you already hold EAC or GOST certificates and want to check whether they cover these markets — or whether they are still valid — our free certificates review service is a good starting point. We verify the authenticity and regulatory currency of existing documents and advise on any gaps or renewal requirements.
Conclusion
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are two of the most dynamic markets in Central Asia, and the pace at which they are opening to international trade and investment shows no signs of slowing. For exporters, the opportunity is tangible — but so is the need to understand that these two countries operate under completely different certification systems.
Kazakhstan, as an EAEU member, runs on EAC Marking for most products, with GOST K filling the gaps for national-level requirements. Uzbekistan, outside the EAEU, requires its own GOST UZ certification — with important exceptions for special economic zones and large-scale industrial projects where a Technical Passport may suffice.
Planning your certification strategy before entering these markets — rather than discovering the requirements at customs — is the most effective way to avoid delays and unnecessary costs. If you have specific questions about your product or are ready to start the process, get in touch with our team.