Tajikistan - Trade Standards Tajikistan-Trade-Standards
Overview
Tajikistan has been a member of WTO since 2 March 2013. More information can be found on the WTO site.Tajikistan is in the process of harmonizing its standards with international norms. U.S. companies should be aware that, on paper, Tajikistan has a comprehensive system of mandatory standards but, in practice, cannot properly administer the complex and demanding standards system. The absence of well-equipped laboratories, qualified staff, and effective enforcement capacity are serious problems. In principle, Tajikistan accepts the conformity certificates issued by its major trading partners; in practice, however, some importers say this does not happen.Standards
The Law on Certification of Products and Services and other acts regulate certification procedures in Tajikistan. According to article 12 of the Law on State Foreign Trade Regulation, all commodities imported to Tajikistan are required to meet technical, pharmacological, sanitary, veterinary, phyto-sanitary and environmental standards and requirements. All services and processes are subject to certification, the procedure for which is in theory the same for all products.Testing, inspection and certification
Publication of technical regulationsThe organization responsible for developing and maintaining standards within the Republic of Tajikistan is the Agency on Standardization, Metrology, Certification, and Trade Inspection (TajikStandard) (http://standard.tj/). All imported goods must be certified by TajikStandard or other appropriate agencies as specified by TajikStandard. Even if goods were certified within an international system, it is still necessary to seek TajikStandard’s confirmation that the international standards are in compliance with Tajik laws.
For perishable goods (produce with up to a one-month shelf-life), produced in countries that are signatories to the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, clearance is based on certification of the manufacturer/producer and its quality-control process. For imported perishable goods from countries outside of the TBT Agreement, the importer should submit proof of product safety, which must include information on product testing, including qualitative and quantitative indicators.
According to Tajikistan’s law “On Certification of Products and Services” (No. 314, dated December 13, 1996, with amendment No. 24 dated May 3, 2002) TajikStandard carries out mandatory certification duties. Other entities involved in mandatory certification are authorized state certification entities, testing laboratories/centers, manufacturers (sellers and contractors) as well as central bodies of certification systems, as defined in particular cases, for coordination of activities for similar products. TajikStandard’s information on certification (in Russian) is here:http://www.standard.tj/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=4.
Tajik laws and standards apply mandatory requirements for certification of safety, consumer health, protection of the environment, and reduction of the potential for consumer property damage to certain products and services. Products requiring such certification include:
- Children’s products
- Food products, processed agricultural products, and feed
- Pharmaceuticals and herbs
- Consumer goods that have contact with skin, food products, or drinking water
- Fuel
- Chemicals intended for non-specialist consumer use
- Perfumery and cosmetics
- Poisonous chemicals and mineral fertilizers
- Agricultural machinery, equipment for household purposes
- Agricultural equipment
- Personal defense products
- Electronic and radio devices (for testing on electric and magnetic compatibility and safety)
- Construction materials
- Communication products
- Products with materials subject to fire and explosion
- Explosive materials and devices for explosive works, storage under pressure, and weight lifting machinery
- Oil, oil products, gas, electric energy, and heat energy
Technical regulations are available in the TajikStandard library upon official request, but are not generally published. If, for safety purposes, goods require special handling in storage, shipment, or utilization, the manufacturer (or contractor) must indicate these rules in shipping documents and products markings, or in other ways, and the seller must make sure that consumers are aware of these rules.
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Contact Information
TajikStandard (Agency for Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection)42/2 Negmat Karabaeva Street
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734018
Tel: +992 (37) 233-6869
Fax: +992 (37) 233-1933
http://www.standard.tj/
National Health Certification Center, Ministry of Health
5/5 Alisher Navoi Street
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734025
Tel: +992 (37) 221-1945
Fax: +992 (37) 221-0895
Communications Service
57 Rudaki Avenue, 3rd floor, Office 312
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734025
Tel: +992 (37) 221-7183
Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Ministry of Agriculture
44 Rudaki Avenue
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734025
Tel: +992 (37) 221-1596
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