Assessment of the

4.5 STRENGTHEN THE NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY CAPACITY AND ENHANCE THE 
PARTICIPATION AT REGIONAL LEVEL 
The state standards
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“GOST” inherited from the former Soviet Union, are not compliant with the Codex 
standards and guidelines that the WTO uses for food safety measures. These should be replaced with the 
Russian Federation’s accession to the WTO in 2012, and those implemented neighboring countries such 
as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. These countries are working on the implementation and 
establishment of a national food safety program with responsible authorities supported by FAO and IAEA.
The Uzbekistan government could implement a series of food safety programs to assist producers, 
regulators, and consumers with the implementation of food safety for production, distribution and 
consumption of wholesome and safe food, especially for export markets. Program initiatives could include 
the following: 
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THE GOST STANDARDS COVER ENERGY, OIL AND GAS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CONSTRUCTION, 
TRANSPORTATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MINING, FOOD PROCESSING, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. 

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USAID.GOV ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL AGRI-LOGISTICS CENTERS IN UZBEKISTAN | 24 
At the regional level, there should be harmonization of regional standards, mutual recognition of 
certifications and analytical results, laboratory networking, and the launching of inter-laboratory 
comparison initiatives and programs, as well as participation in the Food Safety Asia Network. This is a 
regional food safety collaborative arrangement drawing participants from Asia (including several Middle-
East) and the Pacific, supported by IAEA and FAO. 
The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program is a partnership of 11 countries 
(Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, 
Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and development partners working together to 
promote development through cooperation, leading to accelerated growth and poverty reduction. The 
Program is in pursuit of its long-term vision of “Good Neighbors, Good Partners, and Good Prospects.” 
The CAREC corridors and Belt and Road Initiatives are: 
• The Almaty–Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC): the pilot economic corridor under the 
CAREC program, the biggest city of Kazakhstan and Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan,
• The Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor: links Kazakhstan’s city of Shymkent with 
the capital of Uzbekistan Tashkent, and the city of Khujand in Tajikistan. The three cities and adjacent 
areas are within easy access to each other and they have a relatively large population – about 15% of 
the total population of Central Asia live in the Turkestan, Tashkent and Sughd regions. 
Please see Annex 5 for a Summary Table on the Requirements for Phytosanitary, Food Safety & Quality 
Infrastructure.