Kyrgyzstandart, the national standardization body under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, has officially been accredited to certify food safety management systems in line with ISO 22000:2019. This accreditation positions Kyrgyzstan to independently certify food enterprises and reduce reliance on foreign institutions—lowering certification costs and helping producers enter international markets faster, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan reports.
The move directly supports the Export Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2025–2028, which prioritizes improvements in national quality infrastructure, adoption of international standards, and expansion of certification services. Kyrgyzstandart’s accreditation delivers on these goals by creating local capacity to support compliance with global food safety requirements.
The achievement was made possible with the support of UNDP in Kyrgyzstan, through the Aid for Trade project financed by the Government of Finland. The initiative focuses on increasing the competitiveness of Kyrgyz exports by strengthening certification systems, improving product standards, and aligning national institutions with international trade norms.
“We now have in-country capacity to certify food safety systems to ISO 22000,” said Bolot Nurmatov, Director of Kyrgyzstandart. “This will reduce costs for local businesses and accelerate their access to foreign markets.”
“This accreditation is a practical step that improves market access for Kyrgyz producers,” said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative. “By expanding national certification services, we are helping unlock trade potential and build a stronger, export-ready private sector.”
UNDP facilitated an international audit of Kyrgyzstandart’s processes, enhanced staff competencies to meet global certification standards, assessed food safety practices at local enterprises, and supported the development of ISO 22000-compliant certification procedures. Kyrgyzstandart will begin accepting ISO 22000 certification applications from enterprises in the coming weeks—a key step toward strengthening the food industry’s competitiveness and improving product safety in line with global standards.
