Uzbekistan Tightens Regulations on Credit Advertising

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has approved in both first and second readings a draft law that tightens requirements for advertising credit products, the lower house of parliament reported.

The initiative targets issues in microcredit promotion, where marketing materials often emphasize the speed of obtaining funds without fully disclosing borrowers’ potential financial obligations.

Under the proposed law, all credit advertisements, including microloans, must include warnings about the risks of failing to meet debt obligations. These amendments are planned for inclusion in the Law on Advertising.

The warnings are required to occupy at least 10% of the space in graphic advertisements or the equivalent portion of time in audio and video ads.

During parliamentary discussions, the measure was described as a step to improve public awareness of credit risks and foster more responsible borrowing practices.

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee previously advocated for stricter regulation of credit-related advertising, suggesting similar requirements for dedicating at least 10% of the message to risk warnings.

The draft law, developed in coordination with the Central Bank and aligned with international best practices, aims to promote a culture of informed borrowing and reduce the risk of excessive debt among the population.