Kazakhstan restricts grain and feed imports from russia due to livestock culling in Siberia

Kazakhstan has introduced a temporary ban on imports of certain grains, processed products, and animal feed from Russia due to a worsening epizootic situation. The decision was made by the Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, according to Yevgeny Karabanov of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan.

According to the March 21, 2026 document, the restrictions cover a wide range of products, including wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, and soybeans (excluding seeds). Processed products such as bran, starch residues, beet pulp, distillers grains, brewer’s spent grain, oilseed meals, and other plant-based feed components are also banned.

Authorities say the measures are aimed at ensuring veterinary safety and preventing the spread of animal diseases. The directive has been sent to all regional inspection bodies, requiring strict enforcement of the new rules.

It is also specified that any prohibited goods detected must be returned at the border. Market participants report that the restrictions are already being enforced, with rail operators sending back shipments of Russian grain. Oversight of the measures has been assigned to committee chairman Saken Kanybekov.

Reminder: Russia is currently facing mass livestock culling in several Siberian regions, including Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Altai, and Omsk. While authorities officially cite pasteurellosis outbreaks, multiple sources suggest a possible foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, which could trigger export restrictions. These risks have already led Kazakhstan to curb imports of Russian animal products and may have contributed to the broader restrictions now affecting feed grain and related products.

Tags: Russia, corn, Kazakhstan, grain, barley, soybean, rye, restrictions, compound feed, oats