Lawmakers approve bill introducing criminal liability for illegal sale of prescription medicines

According to the bill’s initiators, recent years have seen a rise in violations related to the circulation and sale of prescription-only medicines. Between 2022 and 2025, law enforcement agencies seized 285,000 units of such medicines worth UZS 18 billion from illegal circulation.

In 2024 alone, the number of detected violations in the sale of medicines tripled compared to 2022. Lawmakers noted that existing legal sanctions for such offenses are disproportionate to the damage caused.

Under Article 165-1 of the Administrative Responsibility Code, violations involving the sale of prescription drugs currently result in a fine of 5–10 base calculation units (BCU), equivalent to UZS 2.06–4.12 million. For potent medicines, the fine increases to 50–100 BCU (UZS 20.6–41.2 million).

Criminal liability applies in cases of repeated or large-scale offenses, but it currently does not cover medicines containing potent substances. Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 100–300 BCU (UZS 41.2–123.6 million), restriction of liberty for 2–5 years, or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

The proposed amendments introduce criminal liability for the sale of potent medicines without a prescription, setting fines at 200–300 BCU (UZS 82.4–123.6 million).

In addition, the bill proposes to increase administrative fines for violating retail sale rules of medicines to 50–100 BCU for regular drugs and 100–200 BCU (UZS 41.2–82.4 million) for potent ones. The bill was passed in both readings with 119 votes in favor and 4 abstentions.