Kazakhstan has signed and ratified, with effect from 1 January 2010, a package of treaties with Russia and Belarus relating to the Customs Union

As part of this package the members of the Customs Union adopted a Treaty concerning Common Measures of Non-Tariff Regulation, dated 25 January 2008, and a Treaty Concerning Licensing Rules in the area of Commodity Foreign Trade, dated 9 June 2009. In implementation of such treaties the members of the Customs Union, represented by the Interstate Counsel of the Eurasian Economic Union, adopted Resolution No. 19, dated 27 November 2009, “On Common Non-Tariff Regulation of the Customs Union of the Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation”, which sets out a single list of goods, the export and import of which are subject to prohibitions and restrictions, as well as approves various regulations regarding the application of the restrictions. Among such regulations are the Regulations on Import to and Export from the Territory of the Customs Union of Precious Metals and Raw Materials Containing Precious Metals (the “CU Regulations on Precious Metals”) which cover:

1. The State’s Priority Right to Purchase Gold Bullions;
2. Customs Union Regulations on Precious Metals;
3. New Regulation of Precious Metals in Kazakhstan;
4. State Control over Import/Export to/from Kazakhstan Precious Metals and Raw Materials Containing Precious Metals;
5. Proposed Amendments in State Regulation of Precious Metals and Raw Materials containing Precious Metals; and
6. Proposed VAT Amendments on Gold Sales.