Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Here is an overview of the main changes in national legislation that will come into force on 1 March 2024.

Financing food exporters
 
Exporters of food products are allocated financial resources for up to 2 years to finance pre-export and export trade operations:

up to US$100,000 – with export volumes from US$100,000 to US$1 million;
up to US$1 million – with export volumes from US$1 million to US$2 million;
up to US$2 million – with export volumes from US$2 to US$4 million;
up to US$3 million – with an export volume of over US$4 million.

The procedure for leasing agricultural land is changing
 
Electronic online auctions are being introduced instead of open electronic competition when providing agricultural land for lease.
 
It also provides for the automatic listing of agricultural land plots for online electronic auctions that were previously put up for open electronic competition and the winner of which has not been determined.
 
Some goods are exempt from customs duties
 
Until 1 March 2026, a number of goods, analogues of which are not produced in the republic, imported by business entities according to approved lists, are exempt from paying customs duties
 
New requirements for the import of solar panels
 
It is prohibited to import solar panels whose technical documentation or labeling does not contain information about the corresponding classes “A”, “B”, “C” and “T”, which determine the quality indicators of the elements.

Permitting procedures are being simplified

From 1 March 2024:

some types of licensed activities and permits are cancelled;

legal entities, in case of voluntary payment of a fine within 15 days for committing offenses in the field of licensing, permitting and notification procedures, are provided with a discount of 50% of the fine amount; if paid within 30 days, a discount of 30% is provided.
 
Until 1 January 2025, as an experiment, the “Business without a license” regime is being introduced, which defines a transition and adaptation period for starting activities to operate X-ray equipment and carry out veterinary laboratory and diagnostic work.
 
Government procurement of pharmaceutical products
 
When carrying out public procurement, the state customer may include in one lot only one type of pharmaceutical product (medicines and medical devices under the international nonproprietary name).

How social worker assistants will work
 
A flexible work schedule is being introduced for social worker assistants providing services to single elderly people and persons with disabilities, on all days of the week on an hourly basis.

The activities of assistants are assessed once a month by single elderly people personally, by social workers in the mahalla and by a special program. Based on the assessment results, Inson social service centers encourage social worker assistants.
 
Licensing requirements in the field of urban planning have been changed

Licenses to carry out high-altitude repair, construction and installation work using industrial mountaineering methods can also be obtained by non-resident legal entities that have a permanent establishment on the territory of the republic.

New requirements for landscaping
 
New buildings and structures under construction with a height of more than 12 meters and (or) a total area of more than 500 square meters are not accepted by the state acceptance commission if at least 25% of the land adjacent to them is not allocated for landscaping areas and landscaping activities are not carried out on them.
 
In the conclusion of the state environmental examination, issued according to the design documentation of industrial enterprises classified as environmental impact categories I and II, a mandatory requirement is introduced to create “green belts” on their own and adjacent territories and carry out landscaping activities.
 
Entrepreneurship development company will support business

The company will provide support measures for production and service projects of small and medium-sized businesses.
 
ID cards for athletes
 
To participate in official competitions, championships and cups of Uzbekistan in sports, a procedure is being introduced to determine the affiliation and qualifications of athletes using an identification card (ID).