Uzbekistan’s Senate approved the Market Surveillance Law, establishing a unified system to monitor the safety of non-food products after they enter the market.
Oversight will focus on individual products rather than mass inspections of businesses. Checks will be risk-based, while agency powers will be divided by product group.
Supervisory authorities will be able to make test purchases and conduct expert reviews and laboratory tests. Products found to be dangerous may be recalled or removed from sale.
Liability will extend across the supply chain to manufacturers, importers and sellers. Consumers must be compensated for losses when a product is recalled.
Customs may temporarily suspend the release of a shipment when the risk-management system flags a possible danger. The responsible authority must inspect it within three working days and may take warehouse samples for laboratory testing.
Test purchases are to follow risk criteria, be video-recorded and, where necessary, involve witnesses. Businesses will be able to attend inspections, review documents, make their own recordings and appeal inspectors’ decisions.
A national market-surveillance information system and a digital database of dangerous products will also be created. The law forms part of Uzbekistan’s preparations to join the World Trade Organization.
