Uzbekistan has significantly strengthened penalties for violating the retail sale procedures of prescription drugs containing potent substances. This is outlined in amendments and additions to certain legislative acts introduced by a law adopted on March 6, 2025, targeting the illegal circulation of pharmaceuticals.
According to the document, based on changes to the Administrative Liability Code, the fine for such violations has been set from 100 to 200 times the base calculation amount (BCA), up from the previous range of 50 to 100 times the BCA. Additionally, amendments to the Criminal Code stipulate that breaching retail sale procedures for drugs with potent substances can lead to criminal liability if committed after administrative punishment or on a large scale.
In such criminal cases, penalties now include a fine from 200 to 300 times the BCA, corrective labor for up to 3 years, restriction of freedom from 2 to 5 years, or imprisonment for up to 5 years. Previously, the minimum fine was 100 times the BCA, indicating a doubling of severity in the new provisions.
The law also introduced additions to the Land Code, allowing lessees of agricultural land plots to transfer their rights and obligations to another person for one or several plots. Furthermore, amendments to the “State Duty” law exempt family members of “Vatandosh” cardholders from paying state duty for visa extensions during the card’s validity period.
The bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber in October 2025 and approved by the Senate in December. During parliamentary discussions, it was noted that existing sanctions for such violations were disproportionate, necessitating further refinement of legal mechanisms to curb and prevent the illegal circulation of drugs and medical supplies.
Statistical data reveal that from 2021 to 2024, over 18,000 cases of drug poisoning were recorded, with 177 fatalities. Between 2022 and 2025, 285,000 drug units worth 18 billion soums were seized from illegal circulation. In 2024 alone, such incidents tripled compared to 2022, highlighting the severity of the issue and the urgency behind the new legal measures.
Source: www.gazeta.uz