Mazhilis deputy and Chairman of the Coalition for the Protection of Consumer Rights Murat Abenov believes that introducing fines for the lack of labelling on footwear threatens serious consequences for both entrepreneurs and consumers.
According to Ulysmedia.kz, this initiative is being promoted with the direct involvement of Bagdat Musin.
“A draft law amending the Code of Administrative Offences (CAO), which includes Article 196-1, is under consideration in the Mazhilis. This article proposes fines for the sale of unlabelled goods, including footwear”, the statement reads.
According to the Mazhilis member, mandatory labelling of footwear could lead to significant financial losses for entrepreneurs.
“These changes will hit small entrepreneurs who trade in footwear. Many of them import goods legally, paying all taxes and duties. However, with the introduction of mandatory labelling, they will have to bear additional costs, making their business unprofitable”, noted Murat Abenov.
He also believes that due to the new amendments, businesspeople will have to incur costs for equipment, stickers, and software, which, by his calculations, could reach 2 million tenge.
Consumers will also face additional expenses. According to Abenov, each pair of shoes will become approximately 400 tenge more expensive.
Furthermore, the introduction of labelling could lead to a reduction in the range of footwear available. Entrepreneurs fear that the new amendments will increase corruption risks.
The deputy highlighted the role of former Minister of Digital Development Bagdat Musin in promoting the labelling project. According to him, this is a private initiative being implemented in partnership with ‘Kazakhtelecom’, and only the foreign owners of the system will benefit from it.
“Society remembers how Musin convinced everyone of the need to switch to Sberbank’s platform for ‘e-government’. Now he is pushing labelling just as persistently. The risks and negative consequences for society seem to concern him little”, Abenov stated.
Supporters of the initiative, meanwhile, argue that labelling will help combat smuggling and counterfeiting.