Uzbekistan introduces automatic system to stop sales of expired products

According to presidential decree No. 296 signed on 6 October, products included in the digital marking system will not be allowed for sale once their expiration date has passed. The restriction will be applied automatically through the system.

Under the Law on Consumer Protection, it is already prohibited to accept or sell products that do not indicate their production or expiration date, or whose shelf life has expired. With the new procedure, the sale of such products will now be restricted automatically, making it impossible to issue a receipt for them.

The State Tax Committee explained to Kun.uz how the system will work in practice.

Under current regulations, when digital marking codes are assigned to products, manufacturers and importers are required to submit detailed product information to CRPT Turon LLC for integration into the automated “Asl belgisi” system. The submitted data includes the product name, price, quantity, production date, expiration date, and other relevant details.

For instance, when a retailer scans a product’s 2D code at the point of sale, the marking code is verified against the data in the “Asl belgisi” automated system. If the system identifies that the product’s expiration date has passed, a notification stating “The product’s shelf life has expired” will appear on the online cash register screen.

As a result, the system will automatically prevent the issuance of a receipt for that product.

The Tax Committee further clarified that once a product is marked as “blocked” in the system, the manufacturer or store owner must write off the value of the expired goods.

“If it is confirmed that products have become unusable, a mandatory inventory must be conducted. Based on its results, an official write-off statement is drawn up. The losses caused by product spoilage are recorded under the company’s other operational expenses (account No. 9430),” the committee explained.

For reference, the list of goods subject to mandatory digital marking includes:

• pharmaceutical products and medical devices;

• bottled water and soft drinks;

• household appliances;

• mineral fertilizers and chemical products used for plant protection.