Digital Certification and Traceability of Organic Products: International Legal Aspects of Implementation in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Amid the rapid growth of the global organic product market and the tightening of requirements for product authenticity and origin transparency, the integration of digital technologies into organic product certification and traceability processes has become particularly relevant. This article analyzes the international legal aspects of implementing digital certification and traceability systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking into account international standards and practices, including the Codex Alimentarius, Regulation (EU) No. 2018/848, the guiding principles of IFOAM, and other global initiatives. The research aims to identify legal and institutional mechanisms for harmonizing Kazakhstan’s national organic product certification system with international requirements, as well as to determine key barriers to the digital transformation of certification procedures in the agricultural sector. The research methodology is based on comparative legal and normative-legal analysis of international and national sources, case studies of foreign digital certification and traceability platforms, and the application of legal forecasting elements. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the comprehensive assessment of the applicability of international digital certification models in Kazakhstan’s legal and technological context, considering the Law No. 89-VIII of June 10, 2024, “On the Production and Turnover of Organic Products”, which came into force, as well as the justification for the need to institutionalize digital certificates as legally binding tools for quality control and export. The practical significance of the research consist in the proposals for improving national legislation and integrating digital certification and traceability systems, which can help enhance the export potential of Kazakhstani organic products and strengthen trust among consumers and international trading partners.