Uzbekistan plans to introduce criminal liability for selling counterfeit labeled products

Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov signed a decision on August 3 to regulate the retail trade of goods requiring mandatory digital labeling.

The State Tax Committee will monitor compliance with digital labeling requirements and the registration of entrepreneurs engaged in the retail sale of alcohol, tobacco, beer products, household appliances, and pharmaceuticals in the national information system "Asl belgisi" by September 1, 2024.

Entrepreneurs engaged in the retail sale of these products must notify the district (city) tax inspection one month in advance if they wish to cease operations. The tax inspector will then conduct an audit within three working days to ensure all fees are paid and inventory in the warehouse is accounted for.

The State Tax Committee, in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies, has been tasked with developing a draft document by August 1, 2026, to introduce criminal liability for those importing, manufacturing, and wholesaling or retailing counterfeit or falsely labeled products. Confiscation of such products is also planned.

Additionally, a separate structure consisting of seven staff units will be established within the State Tax Committee. This structure will ensure compliance with digital labeling rules, combat hidden production activities and the spread of counterfeit goods, and ensure full tax collection.

Furthermore, by November 1, 2024, a draft document will be developed to mandate that wholesale sales of digitally labeled products be conducted only without cash transactions.

Measures aimed at accelerating the mandatory digital labeling process have been approved by the decision.

Specifically, the Competition Development and Consumer Protection Committee will prevent artificial price increases of special devices that read and identify barcodes and digital labeling codes connected to online control cash registers and virtual cash registers.

Moreover, proposals are being developed to introduce liability measures for violating labeling rules for marketplaces. The aim is to make registration in the "Asl Belgisi" system mandatory for sellers on exchanges and electronic trading platforms. From January, it is planned to check the participation of sellers in this system.

Additionally, a system will be introduced where purchase receipts are printed only after the product is scanned at the time of sale.

It is proposed to take compliance with labeling requirements into account when evaluating the stability ratings of businesses.

It is planned to allow the release of imported and labeled products into free circulation with labels at customs. It is also proposed to indicate the identification code of goods and services (MHIK) in the customs declaration.

The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade, along with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been tasked with developing a draft law "On Trade" by December 1 and submitting it to the Cabinet of Ministers.