The Association for the Development of the Agricultural Sector of Kyrgyzstan has issued a statement to citizens, representatives of government structures, and the media in light of recent rumors about the company LLC 'Rikha'.
At the meeting of the Budget, Economy, and Entrepreneurship Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on January 19, 2026, claims were made that LLC 'Rikha' allegedly had its "license revoked," "accreditation improperly passed," as well as possible violations of "Halal" standards. These messages were quickly disseminated in the media, causing significant public resonance and negatively impacting the company's reputation.
In this regard, the Association considers it important to provide clarifications regarding this situation.
1) At present, LLC 'Rikha' has not received official notifications (letters, orders, or decisions) from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic or other authorized bodies regarding the revocation of any documents, identified violations, or restrictions on its activities.
2) It is necessary to use terms correctly. The production and sale of sausage products and meat products do not require licensing, and private manufacturing enterprises do not undergo state accreditation, but instead, product certification procedures are applied.
3) "Halal" is a voluntary certification, and LLC 'Rikha' currently holds valid certificates issued by authorized organizations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan, including:
4) Laboratory tests conducted at an accredited institution did not detect pork DNA in the products of LLC 'Rikha', as confirmed by the relevant test protocols.
The Association emphasizes that the dissemination of unverified information without official clarifications harms not only the specific company but also the entire processing industry. In the context of state policy aimed at supporting national producers and developing processing, such incidents undermine trust among both consumers and partners.
The Association for the Development of the Agricultural Sector of the Kyrgyz Republic continuously monitors the situation in the agricultural market, manufacturing processing, and the information environment surrounding domestic producers. Previously, the Association has faced situations where inaccurate or distorted public interpretations led to public pressure and reputational risks for businesses and the entire industry. Based on this, the Association believes it is necessary to clarify the factual and legal aspects of such situations in a timely manner to prevent their recurrence.
It is important to note that reputational risks in such matters are not limited to the domestic market, and any incorrect public interpretation quickly spreads to neighboring markets, creating a negative backdrop for the entire domestic food and processing industry.
The Association calls on all participants in the discussion to adhere to a responsible approach and publish information only when official documents and verified results of examinations are available.
The Association also appeals to government bodies with a request to:
The Association of the Agricultural Sector of the Kyrgyz Republic will continue to protect conscientious domestic producers and advocates for legal, documentarily confirmed, and professional communication on issues related to consumer trust and the business reputation of the country.
In this regard, the Association considers it important to provide clarifications regarding this situation.
1) At present, LLC 'Rikha' has not received official notifications (letters, orders, or decisions) from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic or other authorized bodies regarding the revocation of any documents, identified violations, or restrictions on its activities.
2) It is necessary to use terms correctly. The production and sale of sausage products and meat products do not require licensing, and private manufacturing enterprises do not undergo state accreditation, but instead, product certification procedures are applied.
3) "Halal" is a voluntary certification, and LLC 'Rikha' currently holds valid certificates issued by authorized organizations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan, including:
- Certificate from the Center for the Development of the Halal Industry (Kyrgyz Republic) No. C25;
- Halal Certificate from the Kyrgyz Muslim Administration No. KG 2206/0925;
- Certificate from Halal Damu (Kazakhstan) No. 001295.
4) Laboratory tests conducted at an accredited institution did not detect pork DNA in the products of LLC 'Rikha', as confirmed by the relevant test protocols.
The Association emphasizes that the dissemination of unverified information without official clarifications harms not only the specific company but also the entire processing industry. In the context of state policy aimed at supporting national producers and developing processing, such incidents undermine trust among both consumers and partners.
The Association for the Development of the Agricultural Sector of the Kyrgyz Republic continuously monitors the situation in the agricultural market, manufacturing processing, and the information environment surrounding domestic producers. Previously, the Association has faced situations where inaccurate or distorted public interpretations led to public pressure and reputational risks for businesses and the entire industry. Based on this, the Association believes it is necessary to clarify the factual and legal aspects of such situations in a timely manner to prevent their recurrence.
It is important to note that reputational risks in such matters are not limited to the domestic market, and any incorrect public interpretation quickly spreads to neighboring markets, creating a negative backdrop for the entire domestic food and processing industry.
The Association calls on all participants in the discussion to adhere to a responsible approach and publish information only when official documents and verified results of examinations are available.
The Association also appeals to government bodies with a request to:
- provide an official clarification regarding the situation;
- publicly refute unverified reports if they are not documented;
- ensure the correct communication of the state's position to society and the business community.
The Association of the Agricultural Sector of the Kyrgyz Republic will continue to protect conscientious domestic producers and advocates for legal, documentarily confirmed, and professional communication on issues related to consumer trust and the business reputation of the country.
