Uzbekistan Digitizes Hunting Permits Under New Senate Law

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan's Senate has approved landmark amendments to the country's hunting legislation, shifting permit issuance onto digital platforms, introducing online auctions for hunting land allocation, and tightening the scientific framework governing wildlife quotas.

The Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aimed at Further Improving Hunting and the Activities of Hunting Enterprises" was passed at a plenary session of the Oliy Majlis upper chamber, amending three existing statutes: the Laws on the Protection and Use of Wildlife, on Weapons, and on Hunting and Hunting Enterprises.

At the center of the reform is a comprehensive digitization drive. Under the new framework, hunting licenses will be issued through the state public services portal, while hunting permits — known as putevki — will be processed exclusively via a dedicated electronic platform. Lawmakers said the move addresses persistent gaps in permitting transparency and procedural consistency.

Land allocation for hunting enterprises will similarly migrate online, with plots to be distributed through electronic auctions. Non-agricultural land and forest fund territory of up to ten hectares may be leased for the establishment of hunting bases, while parcels of up to 100 hectares can be allocated for the creation of wild animal breeding facilities — provided lessees fulfill investment and contractual obligations within defined timelines.

The legislation includes an enforcement mechanism to prevent land speculation: lease agreements will be automatically terminated if a breeding facility's infrastructure is not established within two years of allocation.

The law also refines the science-based methodology for determining and distributing quotas for hunting licenses, permits, and the live capture of wild animals — a provision senators said would bring greater rationality and accountability to wildlife resource management.

A territorial restriction is also codified: hunting activity may only be conducted on land directly adjacent to registered hunting enterprises or within designated open hunting grounds, tightening geographic boundaries on where licensed hunting can legally occur.

Senators said the legislation would create more transparent and unified legal mechanisms for regulating the hunting sector, strengthen industry oversight, ensure the rational use of wildlife resources, and stimulate the development of hunting enterprises across the country.