Astana, May 3, Mazhilis House. The Mazhilismen ratified the Agreement on cooperation between the CIS countries on the prevention and suppression of the use of false trademarks and geographical indications. As well as the Protocol amending the Agreement on Free Economic Zones on the Territory of the Customs Union.

As Kairat Balabiyev, member of the Chamber Committee on Legislation and Judicial Reform, noted in his co-report, it is important to ensure the effective protection and preservation of the rights of national and foreign owners of trademarks and geographical indications. The corresponding agreement, which the CIS countries signed in May 2021, is aimed at this. The deputies ratified the document today at the plenary session of the Mazhilis.

“The adoption of the agreement is a timely and necessary measure, as it allows states to prevent, detect and suppress the facts of production and sale of goods with counterfeit trademarks and geographical indications, as well as the transfer of counterfeit trademarks and goods across the customs borders of the CIS member states,” Kairat Balabiev said.

Another ratification law concerns the Protocol amending the Agreement on Free (Special, Peculiar) Economic Zones in the Territory of the Customs Union and the Customs Procedure of the Free Customs Zone dated June 18, 2010.

According to Dinara Shukizhanova, a member of the Chamber Committee on Economic Reform and Regional Development, the main purpose of the protocol is to introduce legal and editorial changes aimed at harmonizing legislation within the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as considering the amendments adopted last year in terms of improving the activities of sanitary and epidemiological service.

“Most of the regions of the republic have really attracted SES investors and launched new production facilities, but not all facilities have gained proper momentum. Gaps in the legislative regulation of the activities of special economic and industrial zones led to a number of difficulties, due to which potential investors were not always ready to enter them,” Dinara Shukizhanova explained.

Also, today the Mazhilis Committee on Legislation and Judicial and Legal Reform adopted a draft law on combating human trafficking in Kazakhstan and related amendments to some legislative acts, including the Code of Administrative Offenses.

At the end of the plenary session, the deputies sent a number of deputy inquiries to the responsible state bodies on topical socio-economic topics.

Press service of the Mazhilis - 24-38-22. Courtesy of Zh. Zhumabekov