Kazakhstan Extends Mandatory Digital Labeling to Bottled Beer From September 1
Kazakhstan will require Data Matrix codes on beer and beer beverages in glass bottles produced or imported from September 1, 2026. Producers and importers must generate and apply the codes, while retailers must scan them at checkout.
Glass bottles enter the labeling system
Kazakhstan will extend mandatory digital labeling to beer and beer beverages in glass bottles from September 1, 2026. According to DKNews.kz, the deadline has been confirmed by the State Revenue Committee. The requirement applies to products manufactured in or imported into Kazakhstan from that date, and newly produced or imported glass-bottled beer without a Data Matrix code cannot be sold.
The September measure is the second stage of a packaging-based rollout. Mandatory labeling has applied to beer and beer beverages in kegs since February 1, 2026. Canned products will enter the system on January 1, 2027. From that date, the authorities intend the platform to provide full traceability as goods move between market participants, rather than recording only the presence of an identifier and its removal from circulation at retail.
Producers and importers carry the main workload
Producers and importers must register in the Digital Labeling and Product Traceability System, submit product information, create product cards and order Data Matrix codes. Each code identifies an individual unit and must be applied to the relevant packaging or container. The market participant must then submit the required report through the system, making labeling part of production, packaging and import operations.
Wholesale suppliers and retailers also need to register and prepare their systems. During the adaptation stage described by DKNews.kz, a store receiving labeled beer from a supplier does not have to confirm the transfer separately in the labeling platform. At checkout, however, the cashier must scan the Data Matrix code. The sale is transmitted to the system, and the bottle is recorded as withdrawn from circulation. Retailers therefore need compatible equipment and checkout procedures, although they are not responsible for generating the codes.
Older stocks receive a one-year sell-through period
Beer produced before mandatory labeling begins for its packaging type does not have to be removed from shelves immediately. According to the requirements cited in the source material, unlabeled inventory may continue to be sold for one calendar year. Consequently, the absence of a Data Matrix code after September 1 will not by itself establish a violation: inspectors and businesses must also consider the production date and packaging format.
The authorities say the system is intended to trace products from a producer or importer to the final sale, improve supply-chain oversight and reduce illegal and counterfeit trade. It follows the model already used for tobacco products, where a code accompanies each item and is scanned when the product leaves circulation. Stores selling both tobacco and beer may therefore already have experience with the basic checkout process.
The operational risk is concentrated around registration, code availability and integration with existing production, logistics and point-of-sale systems. Tax authorities have advised companies not to wait until the final days to register. For manufacturers and importers, a failure to apply codes could prevent eligible new stock from reaching the legal market; for wholesalers and retailers, inadequate data handling or scanning capacity could disrupt receipt and sale. The January 1, 2027 expansion to cans will add another major packaging segment and move the industry toward full digital tracking across the distribution chain.
