Cafes Exempt from Health Regulations – Health Ministry Decision
Small and Medium Biz Owners, Listen Up! Here's the scoop on the latest restrictions:
The Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan has set some new guidelines for businesses in response to a parliamentary inquiry about operating hours for cafes, restaurants, and their outdoor seating areas, as reported by "Kazinform."
According to Minister of Health, Alexei Tsoi, the operating hours of catering establishments and their summer terraces are now within defined epidemiological risk zones. If the zone is classified as "green" (low risk), businesses can operate from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM. In the "yellow" (moderate risk) zone, they can operate from 7:00 AM to midnight. And in the "red" (high risk) zone, they can operate from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Interestingly, Tsoi also mentioned that businesses participating in the Ashyq project can extend their operating hours in the "red" and "yellow" zones up to 2:00 AM, while summer terraces in the "green" zone have no restrictions, allowing them to operate up to 2:00 AM as well.
It seems these restrictions apply not only to summer terraces but also to other small and medium-sized businesses, based on their epidemiological risk zone and participation in the Ashyq project. This is according to Tsoi's conclusion in his parliamentary response.
While our data shows that as of April 2025, there's no explicit mention of these rules being tied to the Ashyq project or epidemiological risk zones in the stated SME policies, there are other essential policies to know about:
- Small and medium businesses must operate B2C unless dealing with other simplified-regime entities (B2B restrictions apply).
- Stay within an annual income limit of 2.4 billion tenge.
- Purchases up to 50,000 MCI are reserved for Kazakhstani SMEs.
- Guarantee funds now target SMEs and large projects.
- Business Roadmap 2025 offers subsidies, grants, and consulting to SMEs.
For specific health-related compliance rules, it's best to consult with Kazakhstani regulatory bodies directly. Keep an eye on these updates, and remember to adapt and evolve along with the ever-changing business environment!
- The latest restrictions set by the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan on small and medium businesses include operating hours for cafes, restaurants, and their outdoor seating areas, as reported by "Kazinform."
- The operating hours of catering establishments and their summer terraces are now subject to defined epidemiological risk zones, with specific hours varying from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM, 7:00 AM to midnight, and 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, depending on the zone.
- businesses participating in the Ashyq project can extend their operating hours in the "red" and "yellow" zones up to 2:00 AM, while summer terraces in the "green" zone have no restrictions, allowing them to operate up to 2:00 AM as well.
- Other restrictions for small and medium businesses in Kazakhstan include B2C operation unless dealing with other simplified-regime entities, an annual income limit of 2.4 billion tenge, purchasing limits for Kazakhstani SMEs, and guarantee funds now targeting SMEs and large projects.
- For specific health-related compliance rules, it's best to consult with Kazakhstani regulatory bodies directly, and remember to adapt and evolve along with the ever-changing business environment.
