Uzbekistan is set to radically reform its food safety system under a presidential decree. Currently, three separate agencies — sanitary, veterinary, and quarantine services — operate in this sphere. They will be replaced by a single body working on the 'from farm to fork' principle.

The lack of a unified database and overlapping functions have caused extra burdens for businesses in export and import. The European Union issued 25 warnings due to pesticide residues in Uzbek products.

The new system will abandon outdated inspections. Mandatory product certification will be replaced by risk-based control. From 2029, fruit and vegetable exports will only be allowed through agro-logistics centers.

The reform will cut inspection time for imports from 9 to 2 days, and for exports from 3 to 1 day. Businesses are expected to save 70 billion soums in warehouse costs.

Additionally, an Agency for the Development of Livestock and Pasture Farming will be established. The country has 16 million hectares of pastures, but only 10% of this potential is currently utilized.

Starting June 1, preferential loans for livestock breeders will be introduced: up to 10 years at 10% annual interest with a 4-year grace period. Importers of breeding cattle will be exempt from VAT until 2029.

Source: kun.uz