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Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry has asked Rosselkhoznadzor to suspend the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for Russian sunflower shipments to Kazakhstan from October 23, 2026. This was reported by inbusiness.kz, citing Russia’s Trade Representation in Kazakhstan (inbusiness.kz). The request covers sunflower seeds for sowing and for food use: these supplies are important for the sowing campaign and for providing processors with raw materials.
What happened
Kazakhstan’s ministry sent an official request to Rosselkhoznadzor. The Russian agency’s responsibilities include phytosanitary controls and issuing documentation for plant products. The request concerns certificates for shipments destined for Kazakhstan.
“The request covers sunflower seeds both for sowing and for food use,” Russia’s Trade Representation in Kazakhstan said. The proposed suspension thus covers two product categories. The request affects both seeds for the sowing campaign and sunflower seeds intended for food use.
What date Kazakhstan proposed
According to the Trade Representation, Kazakhstan proposed halting the issuance of certificates from October 23, 2026. This is the proposed start date for the suspension of document issuance.
The ministry’s letter asks the Russian agency to take this step. The next step is Rosselkhoznadzor’s response to Kazakhstan’s request. Its response will determine how documentation is issued for new sunflower shipments planned for Kazakhstan.
What this means for shipments
A phytosanitary certificate confirms that plant products meet quarantine requirements—the rules that apply when they move between countries. This document is required for shipments under the relevant procedures. A potential halt to its issuance would therefore directly affect sunflower shipments from Russia to Kazakhstan.
If Rosselkhoznadzor stops issuing certificates, this will create an obstacle for new shipments. The requested measure concerns the paperwork issued on the Russian side. That is why Kazakhstan’s ministry addressed its request to the agency responsible for issuing these documents.
For Kazakhstan’s agricultural market, supplies meet two needs: raw materials for processing plants and seeds for farmers. Further developments will depend on official decisions by the two countries’ phytosanitary authorities. The key questions for market participants are how Russia will respond and how long any suspension of certificate issuance might last.
