In September 2025, a large-scale preventative operation, codenamed "Livestock Transportation and Meat Sales Areas," was launched in Shymkent's Karatau District. The main goal of the operation was to prevent the illegal transportation of animals and meat products, ensure compliance with veterinary and sanitary standards, and protect the public from low-quality and potentially dangerous food products.

Shymkent is one of the country's largest metropolitan areas, with a rapidly growing population. This creates an increased demand for high-quality and safe food products. Meat and meat products are particularly important, as they form the basis of many families' diets. Failure to comply with sanitary requirements during the transportation and sale of meat can lead to widespread illness, epidemiological threats, and other negative consequences.

The Karatau district is characterized by the active development of private farmsteads and farms where livestock are kept. Furthermore, the district is home to numerous retail outlets and markets selling meat. Therefore, the issue of bringing order to this area is particularly pressing.

The event involves officers from the Karatau District Police Department, veterinary specialists, representatives of the sanitary and epidemiological control department, and the Akimat. All agencies are working closely together:

• The police are responsible for identifying cases of illegal transportation and drawing up administrative reports;

• veterinarians check the availability and accuracy of veterinary accompanying documents;

• Sanitary inspectors assess the quality and safety of meat products;

• The Akimat provides organizational and informational support.

Particular attention is being paid to vehicles transporting animals and meat. Mobile teams are conducting raids at city entrances and along the district's main thoroughfares. Documentation for transported animals, as well as veterinary certificates and permits, are being checked. In cases where the transport is carried out without documentation, the products are subject to confiscation, and violators are subject to administrative penalties.

In addition to roads, inspections are also conducted at markets. There, vendor stalls, refrigeration equipment, and sanitary conditions for meat storage are checked. Vendors are required to present certificates confirming the origin of their goods and their inspection by a veterinary and sanitary inspection laboratory.

Regulatory authorities remind citizens and entrepreneurs that current legislation provides clear requirements:

• transportation of animals and meat must be carried out only on specially equipped vehicles;

• each batch of livestock or meat must be accompanied by veterinary documents;

• storage and sale of meat is permitted only if temperature conditions and sanitary standards are observed;

• Before sale, products must undergo laboratory testing.

Violation of these rules entails administrative penalties – fines, confiscation of products, and, in particularly serious cases, suspension of the retail outlet’s operations.

The event is aimed not only at identifying violators but also at preventing them. To this end, educational talks are held with sellers and carriers, and informational leaflets are distributed.

City residents are advised that purchasing meat without documentation and laboratory testing poses a serious health risk. Meat-borne infections can spread quickly and affect large numbers of people. Therefore, every buyer should exercise vigilance: check the seller's documentation and inquire about the origin of the product.

Numerous violations were uncovered within the first few days of the raids. Specifically, it was discovered that some carriers were transporting livestock without accompanying documents. Vendors were found at several markets attempting to sell meat without laboratory certification.

Administrative reports were filed based on these incidents, and the products were seized. The violators were informed that such actions are unacceptable, as they pose a threat to public health.

Law enforcement and control agencies have stated that work in this area will continue on an ongoing basis. Plans are underway to expand the number of mobile teams, increase their coverage area, and engage public organizations in collaboration.

The goal is not only to identify violations but also to create conditions that facilitate the legitimate activities of entrepreneurs. To this end, training seminars, consultations, and the provision of necessary methodological assistance are planned.

The operational and preventive measure "Transportation of livestock and meat sales points", carried out in the Karatau district of the city of Shymkent, is of strategic importance for ensuring food security and protecting public health.

Its main goal is to prevent illegal trafficking of meat products, draw public attention to sanitary and veterinary issues, and develop a responsible attitude towards food quality among entrepreneurs and consumers.

Such measures not only help identify violations but also prevent them in the future, nurturing citizens' understanding that safety begins with each of us.