Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health has published a draft resolution that would require mandatory warning labels on non-alcoholic beverages produced and imported into the country starting in 2027, based on their sugar content. The draft is open for public discussion on the portal for normative legal acts.
Under the proposal, the warning label must appear on the front of the packaging, occupy at least 15% of its surface, and be clearly visible at first glance. The packaging would also need a QR code containing information about the product's ingredients, calorie content, and daily consumption norms. Specific sugar thresholds per 100 ml would be established.
The Committee for Food Safety would be tasked with approving a unified methodology for laboratory testing of non-alcoholic beverages by March 1, 2027, and establishing sugar-content testing in accredited laboratories by September 1. The committee would also maintain a quarterly registry of beverages exceeding sugar limits and publish it on official websites.
By December 1, 2027, a unified digital platform for monitoring high-sugar beverages is planned. It will be created as a module of the "Asl Belgisi" system. The platform would mandatorily include data on sugar or carbohydrate content per 100 ml and types of sweeteners. Laboratory test results would also be entered into the system on a risk basis.
The Customs Committee is tasked with introducing an electronic declaration system for sugar content in imported non-alcoholic beverages by January 1, 2028. Measures will be taken to prevent the entry of products that do not meet labeling requirements. From January 1, 2027, a gradual restriction on the sale of non-compliant non-alcoholic beverages in educational institutions is proposed.
The Competition Committee would conduct control purchases of high-sugar non-alcoholic beverages and publish information about violations in the media. The draft also envisions regular public awareness campaigns through the media about the harms of excessive sugar consumption, daily sugar norms, and its impact on children's health. The discussion of the draft will continue until October 14.
It is worth recalling that Uzbekistan already planned to introduce special labeling for products high in salt, sugar, and fat. According to a 2020 presidential decree, colored labels on such products were to be voluntary from July 1, 2021, and mandatory from January 1, 2025. The requirement applies to both imported and domestically produced goods.
Source: www.gazeta.uz