Key Legal Changes Take Effect in Uzbekistan from 1 June

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A series of new legislative and regulatory changes will come into force in Uzbekistan from 1 June, according to an overview published by the Norma portal. The updates cover pharmaceuticals, customs regulation, digital transformation, environmental protection, public procurement, and anti-corruption measures.

Support for the pharmaceutical sector

Under the new measures, part of the expenses of pharmaceutical manufacturers will be reimbursed from the Trade Promotion Fund. Companies will receive compensation of up to 50% of costs for foreign consulting services and obtaining EU GMP, US FDA GMP, and WHO prequalification certifications, up to a maximum of US$50,000.

Additionally, manufacturers of medicines and medical devices developed by research institutes and educational institutions, and not yet produced in Uzbekistan, will be eligible for reimbursement of 80% of costs related to registration, clinical trials, and bioequivalence studies after the start of production and sales, up to $8,000.

Public procurement and customs facilitation

Pharmaceutical and selected other manufacturing companies will be allowed to participate in public procurement even with minor tax arrears of up to 2 base calculation units. If debts exceed this threshold, participation will still be allowed for up to 10 days after the arrears arise.

All stages of investment projects financed by external public debt will be monitored through the “Control and Monitoring of Investment Projects” information system.

Entrepreneurs will also be allowed to defer or split customs duty payments for up to 120 days. In addition, the use of general customs guarantees will allow reduced collateral requirements based on risk assessment systems.

Certain import procedures are being abolished. In particular, sanitary-epidemiological certificates will no longer be required for food imports from companies holding internationally recognized food safety certifications such as FSSC 22000, IFS Food, BRCGS, and SQF. Responsibility for compliance will shift to importers.

Customs simplification and regulatory relief

The requirement for quarantine authorization when placing goods under the “release for free circulation” customs regime is also being abolished.

Anti-corruption and human resources reforms

A new system will be introduced to assess the corruption resilience of public sector employees. Officials working in high- and medium-risk positions will undergo evaluation, including candidates for such positions.

A “low” resilience rating will require mandatory reassignment to a lower-risk position.

Construction and environmental regulation

A new framework for construction waste management will be introduced. Waste generated during construction, reconstruction, renovation, or demolition must be transferred to specialized recycling companies or disposal sites.

Project documentation will now be required to include estimates of construction waste volumes and disposal solutions. Developers must also take measures to prevent dust and odor pollution.

Digitalization of archives

A Unified National Information System for archives will be introduced to store digitized archival documents.

Implementation will occur in phases:

• 2025–2027: high-value documents and property/land archives
• 2028–2029: film, photo, audio, and scientific-technical archives
• From 2030: remaining National Archive Fund documents

AI procurement reforms

Public procurement rules for artificial intelligence software will be simplified. Government agencies will be able to purchase from companies listed in a special registry and conclude direct contracts up to a specified threshold.

Overall, the reforms aim to streamline administrative processes, support businesses, and accelerate digital transformation across government systems.