Tashkent Hosts Annual Meeting of the Global Ecolabelling Network

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 13 to 17 October, the capital of Uzbekistan is hosting the annual meeting of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN AGM 2025). For the first time in the history of the organization, the event is being held in Central Asia.

The forum is organized by the GEN Secretariat and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Over 60 delegates from 25 countries are participating, including heads of national ecolabelling systems, representatives of international organizations, and experts from the field.

The event has become possible due to Uzbekistan’s consistent environmental policy under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In recent years, the country has achieved significant progress in developing environmental certification systems, promoting eco-friendly production, and advancing the national initiative “Yashil Belgi”.

At the opening ceremony, Aziz Abduhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, emphasized that ecolabelling is no longer merely a certification tool but a mechanism of trust between producers, the government, and consumers—a mark of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.

He noted that the “Yashil Belgi” system is vital for implementing the country’s strategic course toward creating a competitive, innovative, and environmentally oriented economy.

According to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 20 dated January 20, 2025, Uzbekistan has introduced a voluntary ecolabelling system for products and services. Twenty-two national standards have been approved, the “Yashil Belgi” system has been developed, preferences for certified products have been established, and Uzbekistan has received the status of an associate member of GEN. The first products have already received the national ecolabel, strengthening the country’s position as an active participant in global green initiatives.

The GEN Week program in Tashkent includes a seminar titled “Ecolabelling in the Republic of Uzbekistan: Eco-friendly Business, New Markets”, featuring experts from Germany and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The program also includes the signing of memorandums of understanding between the State Center for Ecological Certification and national systems from Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and Germany, as well as discussions on establishing a GEN Coordination Center for Central Asia.

K.S. Venkatagiri, Chair of GEN, noted that Central Asia is considered a key development region for the coming decade, and Uzbekistan is seen as a responsible coordinator in the field of sustainable development and environmental certification.

Nodirjon Yunusov, Director of the State Center for Ecological Certification and Standardization, highlighted that hosting the forum is important for strengthening international cooperation, improving the national “Yashil Belgi” system, and promoting Uzbek products in global markets.

The GEN AGM 2025 meeting in Tashkent will serve as a significant milestone in the development of international cooperation in ecological certification, the harmonization of standards, and the further advancement of Uzbekistan’s eco-industry on a global level.

The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is an international non-profit organization uniting over 30 national environmental certification systems.

The State Center for Ecological Certification and Standardization of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the central operator of the “Yashil Belgi” system and coordinates the country’s interaction with GEN.