Kazakhstan has approved a new national standard for pasteurized camel milk aimed at helping domestic producers expand exports to China, the Middle East and countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Alexander Razzarenov, deputy director general of the Kazakh Institute of Standardization and Metrology, announced the development during a briefing at the Central Communications Service, Qazinform News Agency reports.

Kazakhstan has long maintained a national standard for saumal, or fresh mare’s milk. This year, a separate standard for pasteurized camel milk was developed based on scientific research.

Razzarenov said that laboratory tests showed that Kazakh camel milk products outperformed comparable products from trading partners in terms of quality. The new standard introduces stricter quality requirements intended to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic producers in international markets.

Camel milk is widely used in Kazakhstan to make shubat, a traditional fermented drink. Pasteurized camel milk is also used in ice cream, jams and coffee-based beverages, including the increasingly popular “camelccino,” a camel-milk alternative to cappuccino.

The Ministry of Trade and Integration said the standard was approved on September 11, 2026, and will take effect on November 1. It establishes uniform requirements for the quality, safety, labeling, packaging, transportation and storage of pasteurized camel milk.

The move follows other efforts to adapt Kazakh products to international market requirements. Kazakh dried kumys, a traditional fermented mare’s milk product, and horse meat have also been adapted to meet foreign market standards.