Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has officially registered a new regulation governing the activities of courier services in the e-commerce sector, according to the ministry's legal information channel.

The document, developed by the National Agency for Advanced Projects, is the first to formally define the legal status of couriers, outlining their rights and responsibilities within a regulatory framework.

According to the regulation, couriers are defined as individuals who deliver goods under an employment or civil contract with entrepreneurs or delivery services. This category also includes self-employed individuals working directly with e-commerce platforms.

One of the key provisions of the regulation grants delivery services and couriers the right to accept payment from customers for goods and/or delivery services, provided such arrangements are specified in the contract. In all cases, the use of cash register equipment is mandatory — issuing a paper or electronic receipt or invoice is a required condition.

The regulation places particular emphasis on sanitary standards for food delivery. Vehicles and thermal containers used in the process must be kept clean and in proper working condition. Couriers and delivery services are required to regularly wash and disinfect the equipment used for transporting food.

To ensure safety and confidentiality, couriers are strictly prohibited from opening packages of the goods being delivered. They are also forbidden from sharing customers’ personal data or delivery details with third parties, except in cases clearly defined by law.

The introduction of this regulation is aimed at enhancing trust in e-commerce, establishing unified operational standards for couriers, and strengthening consumer protection amid the rapid growth of online commerce in Uzbekistan.