Uzbek Senate Approves Law on Food Safety to Protect Citizens and Boost Exports

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  At its recent plenary session, the Senate of Uzbekistan reviewed and approved the Law “On Food Safety.”

During the discussion, it was noted that in recent years Uzbekistan has carried out large-scale efforts to ensure food security, improve the quality of agricultural products, and enhance their export potential. At the same time, existing legislation did not clearly define the responsibilities and accountability of businesses for the consistent production of safe food products.

Senators emphasized that gaps in the food safety system relative to international standards have led to isolated cases of illness, including food poisoning, highlighting the need to strengthen the regulatory framework. The new law aims to ensure citizens have access to safe food, enhance industry oversight, and establish unified safety standards in line with international requirements.

The legislation clearly defines the key principles of food safety and the powers of competent state authorities in this area. To coordinate actions, an Interdepartmental Council on Food Safety will be established. The development and enforcement of sanitary measures, rules, and standards will be aligned with the provisions of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Senators noted that the adoption of the law will protect the population with safe food products, strengthen state control, increase the competitiveness of domestic goods, enhance the sector’s investment attractiveness, and expand export opportunities.