Uzbekistan Eases Digital Marking Rules for Businesses

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has decided to ease the approach to implementing the second stage of mandatory digital product marking, known as aggregation, and to reduce financial penalties for violations in this area, according to Abduqodir Buriev, the presidential commissioner for the protection of entrepreneurs’ rights.

In an interview with the O’zbekiston 24 television channel, Buriev said that discussions with businesses showed that several companies, particularly in the bottled water production sector, were not ready for the new stage of digital marking, which had been scheduled to come into force on April 1. According to the analysis presented, half of the ten largest producers controlling around 90% of the market had not completed preparations for the introduction of the aggregation system.

Buriev said the situation was reviewed with the participation of business representatives and reported to the President of Uzbekistan. As a result, he said, a decision was made to further postpone implementation deadlines, taking into account the need for adaptation by enterprises and to minimize negative impacts on production.

Representatives of the Tax Committee said the postponement was linked to the high technological complexity of the process and the need for more effective implementation of digital tools. They added that emphasis is being placed on gradual adaptation of businesses to the new requirements.

It was also reported that, following a presidential instruction, the administrative burden on entrepreneurs will be reduced. In particular, fines for violations of mandatory digital marking requirements under Article 227-1 of the Tax Code are being revised.

Sanctions for producers, importers, and wholesale companies will be reduced, while fixed fines will be introduced for retail and food service enterprises instead of penalties linked to turnover.

For bottled water producers, deadlines for compliance with product aggregation requirements and the inclusion of marking codes in electronic invoices will also be extended.

Alfiya Musina, executive director of the UzBev Association of Soft Drink and Juice Producers, said the industry had previously appealed to state authorities to reconsider the approach to implementing digital marking. She said the changes and reduction in fines could help restore production volumes, attract investment, and create jobs.

Authorities emphasized that the measures are aimed at maintaining a balance between the introduction of digital control tools and ensuring business stability during technological transformation.