Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Some manufacturers of water and soft drinks are negligent in introducing mandatory digital labeling. This is stated in the message of the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan.

The agency notes that the introduction of mandatory digital labeling of water and soft drinks from 1 March 2024 is aimed at reducing the volume of the shadow segment.

On 15 July 2021, a pilot project was launched to prepare businesses for the production of labeled products and testing mechanisms. Over the past three years, the Tax Committee, together with market participants, has organized dialogues, meetings and training events.

Manufacturers were provided with practical assistance in selecting equipment, software and technical solutions. Voluntarily, the business provided information on 1,700 products and tested the labeling of more than 106 million finished products.

“Despite the market’s readiness to implement digital labeling, there is a negligent attitude on the part of some manufacturers of water and soft drinks,” the committee noted.

The Tax Committee emphasizes that some manufacturers ignore official notifications from the department and the marking operator CRPT Turon, refuse to participate in the pilot project, including equipping the necessary marking equipment on production lines, and do not provide feedback after explanatory work.

The Committee emphasizes that products in the “water and soft drinks” category are highly marketable products that are in high demand on the market. Digital labeling will allow to standardize and unify “water and soft drinks,” thereby ridding the domestic market of illegal products and counterfeit goods, both locally produced and imported.

Innovations will improve logistics and business processes for consumer goods and reduce the volume of the shadow segment. By controlling the turnover of products, state budget revenues will increase.

From 1 March 2024, the following types of products are subject to mandatory digital labeling:
- Unfermented drinks that do not contain alcohol, with added sugar or other sweeteners.
- Unsweetened fruit juices (except grape juice).
- Vegetable juices.
- Carbonated and still waters and drinks.

From 1 August 2024:
- Water and soft drinks in metal packaging, including aluminum cans.