Uzbekistan increases air pollution penalties, tightens environmental oversight

The law, approved by parliament and signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, introduces stricter administrative and criminal liability for violations in environmental protection, waste management, and the use of natural resources.

Fines for violating air protection rules have been significantly increased. Penalties for failing to properly operate emission-cleaning equipment now range from 30 to 50 times the Base Calculating Amount (BCA) for a first offense, rising to 50 to 100 times that amount for repeat violations.

Penalties have also been raised for exceeding emissions standards in transport and for other air quality violations, such as the burning of plant waste.

The law requires enterprises classified under environmental impact categories I and II to install automatic monitoring systems. These systems must transmit real-time data from pollution sources to a unified state environmental database.

Companies that fail to provide data, submit incomplete information, or report inaccurate figures may face financial sanctions ranging from 100 to 300 times the BCA. If a company does not acknowledge a violation or fails to pay the fine within one month, the case will be referred to a court.

Furthermore, officials may be held administratively liable for failing to ensure full and accurate reporting to the environmental monitoring system, with higher fines applied for repeat offenses.

The legislation also stipulates that environmental violations may be recorded using automated photo and video systems, with such evidence forming the basis for administrative proceedings.

The law will enter into force on June 28, 2026.