Cheese, yogurt, and cream: the proposal not to extend the duty-free regime for certain products has been criticized
At the end of 2026, the duty-free regime for the import of 56 types of consumer goods will expire. The government proposes to extend the zero rate for most of them for another year, while not extending the privilege to a number of products such as cheese, yogurt, cream, and chocolate. Members of the Public Council for Business Support emphasized that imposing duties on goods would increase prices and become a burden on the population.
Cheese, yogurt, and cream: proposal not to extend duty-free regime for certain products faces criticism
On October 27, a meeting of the Public Council for the Support of Entrepreneurship under the President discussed a draft presidential decree providing for the imposition of duties on the import of certain food products.
Currently, the import of many types of food and consumer products is temporarily exempt from customs duties, with this privilege valid until January 1, 2027. The proposed draft decree envisions extending the duty-free regime for most products; however, it is proposed to leave the period of the privilege unchanged for 9 types of products.
According to Sarvar Khojayev, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Trade who presented the project, a zero rate of customs duty is currently applied to the import of 56 types of consumer goods under existing documents. The draft provides for extending the application of the zero rate until January 1, 2028, maintaining the privilege fully for 45 types of products and partially for two commodity positions.
Meanwhile, for the following nine types of products, it is not intended to extend the current privilege after its expiration date: condensed milk and cream; yogurt; cheese and cottage cheese; apples, pears, and quinces; sugar confectionery; chocolate; pasta; mineral and aerated waters; non-alcoholic beverages.
Thus, it is proposed to reinstate duties on the import of these products starting from January 1, 2027.