What Business Should Be Concerned About Due to the Implementation of the National Goods Catalog Starting 2026

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Effective January 1, 2026, the implementation of the National Goods Catalog (NGC) will become mandatory for producers and importers in Kazakhstan. While the state positions the NGC as a tool for creating a "common language" of data, the business community, represented by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," expresses serious concerns.

Key Risks and Business Concerns

An analysis of the entrepreneurs' position voiced on the platform of the NCE "Atameken" reveals several key problems that companies should prepare for now:

Concern	Comment	Practical Implication for Business
Lack of Legal Protection	Absence of clear provisions in laws and bylaws regulating fines and the phased implementation for SMEs. As noted by the Chairman of the SME Development Committee, Saken Karin, memoranda or verbal promises will not protect during a tax audit.	High risk of penalties under Article 31 of the Law "On Regulation of Trading Activities" even during the adaptation period.
High Operational Costs	The need to manually create and maintain thousands of product cards with photos and descriptions. For small businesses, especially in regions, this means either hiring an IT specialist or diverting their own resources.	Increased costs and administrative burden, which may ultimately lead to price hikes for consumers.
Technical Unpreparedness	The system already contains 17 million items, many of which are duplicates. This creates confusion during registration and the risk of errors. Data is not yet automatically integrated with key systems.	Loss of time, incorrect product declaration, and potential issues during inspections.
Uncertainty Regarding Scope of Obligations	It is not clear to everyone which specific products are subject to registration.	Risk of non-compliance due to misinterpretation of rules.

The NGC as Part of a Large-Scale Reform

It is important to understand that the NGC is not an isolated project. It is an element of a three-tier system which includes:

General Classifier of Goods.
National Goods Catalog (NGC).
Marking and traceability system.

Furthermore, from the beginning of 2026, the launch of the Register of Kazakhstani Producers is planned, which will replace certificates of origin. The NGC will become a data source for customs, public procurement, tax administration, and budget planning. As noted by the Deputy Chairman of the NCE Board, Timur Zharkenov, it is no longer possible to consider the implementation of the catalog in isolation from these processes, especially electronic invoices (E-invoicing).

How Should Businesses Prepare and Mitigate Risks

Instead of waiting for final clarity, which may be delayed, companies should act proactively.

Recommended Steps:

Conduct an inventory of product items. Identify which of your products (especially those packaged for sale) are subject to registration in the NGC according to the Ministry of Trade's clarifications.
Start collecting the necessary data. Each item will require a correct description, photographs, GTIN/NTIN codes — this process can take a significant amount of time.
Analyze and optimize internal processes. Who and how will be responsible for maintaining the catalog in your company? Will modifications to accounting systems (1C, etc.) be required?

Acsour offers professional support at all stages:

Legal Audit: analysis of your obligations in light of the new requirements and assistance in minimizing the risk of penalties.
Project Implementation Support: assistance with product classification, process setup, and data preparation for uploading to the NGC.
Integration with Accounting Systems: consultations on configuring and modifying your software (1C, etc.) for correct data exchange with state systems.
Ongoing Monitoring of Changes: we track all legislative updates and clarifications from regulators so you can focus on your business.

TTimely and professional preparation will allow you not only to avoid risks but also to leverage new opportunities to increase transparency and efficiency in your supply chains.

Submit a request, and our experts will help you build a clear adaptation plan for NGC requirements, ensuring the stability and continuity of your operations in 2026.