Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During the International E-commerce and Retail Forum Central Asia Retail Week 2024, held on 16-17 October with support from the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, a special session was organized on state regulation of the production and sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks.

The session concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Energy Drinks Association and CRPT TURON, the organization representing Uzbekistan's national digital product marking and tracking system, Asl Belgisi.

Participants in the session included experts from key government agencies, such as the Agency for Technical Regulation of Uzbekistan, the Committee on Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, the Competition Development and Consumer Rights Protection Committee, and the Tax Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers. Additionally, speakers from Kazakhstan and Russia, major retailers, and producers of popular energy drinks such as Red Bull, Gorilla, and Flash Up, took part.

Experts discussed safety requirements for energy drinks, existing regulations and standards, and the procedures for obtaining sanitary-epidemiological certificates. They also reviewed the state of the energy drinks market in Central Asia and Russia. Government regulators emphasized their willingness to cooperate with the Energy Drinks Association and the business sector in developing regulatory documents.

A key focus of the session was the implementation of the digital marking system in Uzbekistan, which is expected to enhance control and transparency in the production and distribution of energy drinks and water. Representatives from the Tax Committee stressed the importance of this technological innovation for products with high consumer demand.

The session concluded with the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between CRPT TURON, represented by CEO Anatoliy Bachikalov, and the Energy Drinks Association, represented by Mirpayoz Mirsaatov. Bachikalov emphasized that this agreement is a vital step toward creating a transparent and equitable market for energy drinks in Uzbekistan, helping to ensure consumer safety and product quality.

The session on the "Production and Sale of Energy Drinks in Central Asia" was a highlight of Central Asia Retail Week 2024.