Under the proposed changes, the UzTest Center will be dissolved, and the Accreditation Center will be transferred to the subordination of the Cabinet of Ministers. Testing and certification services are to be fully handed over to the private sector, while leading international companies, including Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas and TÜV, will be attracted to help foster a competitive market environment.
Aligning with WTO requirements
At the meeting, it was emphasized that full compliance of the technical regulation system with international norms is a prerequisite for joining the World Trade Organization. Officials noted that the current practice of inspecting enterprises during product conformity assessments has been a source of dissatisfaction among businesses.
Under existing rules, if a non-compliant product is identified, restrictions are imposed not only on the product’s circulation but also on the activity of the producing enterprise. In contrast, developed economies rely on risk-based market surveillance systems, where manufacturers assume full responsibility for product compliance through declaration procedures, guaranteeing quality and safety.
In this context, Uzbekistan plans to gradually move away from direct state control toward market surveillance principles. A separate draft law “On Market Surveillance” has been developed to support the transition.
Phasing out outdated standards
The presentation highlighted the need to abandon obsolete standards and ineffective technical regulations and to transition fully to international benchmarks. Uzbekistan currently has more than 33,000 standards in force, about half of which are considered outdated or not aligned with global requirements.
As part of the reform:
- Six technical regulations will be repealed.
- Twenty-nine regulations will be revised.
- 4,460 international standards are to be adopted this year.
- More than 2,500 additional standards will be adopted next year.
- A further 817 international standards are planned for adoption by 2028.
