The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, by a decision adopted on May 19, postponed the aggregation stage (tracking of product batches) in the digital marking system for water and soft drinks by one year – until April 1, 2027. This was reported by a government source.
The decision was made in response to numerous objections from market participants, who cited the industry's unpreparedness, the complexity and insufficient elaboration of mechanisms negatively affecting production rates and volumes, as well as final consumer prices. They also noted that the marking system for soft drinks is hardly used in many countries worldwide, as the risk of counterfeiting in this sector is not high.
According to the resolution, the postponement is necessary “to ensure the full creation of technical capabilities for the phased introduction of mandatory digital marking mechanisms for carbonated and still water and beverages.” The introduction of the procedure for recording digital marking codes in electronic invoices was also postponed by one year.
The Tax Committee was instructed, together with the digital marking system operator – Asl Belgisi (CRPT Turon) – to conduct extensive explanatory work among manufacturers and representatives of wholesale and retail trade.
Entrepreneurs expressed serious concern that fines for violating marking rules could reach up to 20% of quarterly revenue, including for unintentional errors affecting only one product unit. The resolution did not address this issue.
The digital marking and traceability system for goods in Uzbekistan has been implemented since 2019. The sole operator is CRPT Turon, established by the Russian Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies. It manages a platform similar to Russia's “Chestny Znak” system.
The introduction of marking for water and beverages has been postponed several times: initially from October 2022 to July 1, 2023, and then to March 1, 2024. In the summer of 2021, producers proposed halting the pilot project, considering it economically inefficient. CRPT Turon called these concerns a “myth.”
In late March 2026, the UzBev association of beverage and juice producers warned of serious risks, stating that the implemented model is unrealistic and the algorithms are not fully developed. CRPT Turon urged not to “speculate” on the inconveniences.
Later, the issue was raised at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjayev. He instructed the Tax Committee to study the matter and prepare it for presentation to the country's leadership. Entrepreneurs were promised that fines for violations would not be applied.
In early May, it became known that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev supported the postponement of the aggregation stage and the reduction of fines in this area.
Source: www.gazeta.uz