Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law introducing amendments and additions to several legislative acts aimed at improving the regulation of the alcohol and tobacco market.

The document introduces changes to the Law "On State Duties" and the Law "On Licensing, Permit, and Notification Procedures," defining the authority of the Inspection as the designated state body responsible for overseeing compliance with licensing and notification procedures in the production and wholesale trade of consumer and technical ethyl alcohol, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products, as well as the requirements for their wholesale distribution.

Additionally, the law clarifies the procedure for paying the annual state duty for licenses to produce consumer and technical ethyl alcohol, alcoholic beverages, and to engage in wholesale alcohol trade. The next payment must be made no later than 30 days before the start of the next licensing year; otherwise, the license will be suspended.

Amendments have also been made to the Law "On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products."

Under the new regulations, businesses engaged in wholesale trade of beer and beer-based beverages, as well as wholesale and retail trade of tobacco products, are now only required to submit a notification to the relevant state authority before commencing operations.