A new regulation on the functioning of bonded warehouses has been adopted in Uzbekistan, which is intended to serve as a foundation for the development of cross-border e-commerce. According to this procedure, imported goods can be stored under customs supervision until the buyer places an order through specially designated online platforms.
The resolution adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers defines a bonded warehouse as a special facility within a free warehouse area. Foreign goods remain under customs control until the buyer places an order, after which they undergo customs clearance and are delivered to the recipient.
This new approach is expected to significantly accelerate the delivery process for foreign goods and make purchases on international online platforms more convenient and prompt. These warehouses permit not only storage but also sorting, order picking, packaging, and labeling operations (excluding excise goods), as well as simple assembly work. However, manufacturing activities and product processing at these facilities are prohibited.
Only legal entities meeting several strict criteria can operate bonded warehouses. These include possessing a license for free warehouse operations, inclusion in a special register, partnership with an e-commerce platform, ownership of a warehouse complex covering at least fifteen thousand square meters, and the use of an automated accounting system integrated with customs information systems. The decision to include an entity in the register is made by the Customs Committee within ten working days.
The sale of imported goods must occur exclusively through approved electronic trading platforms. As soon as an order is placed, the information is automatically transmitted to customs authorities. After all necessary customs duties are paid, the goods are released for free circulation and sent to the buyer. If the purchase is made outside of Uzbekistan, the goods are cleared under export procedures and removed directly from the bonded warehouse territory.
The maximum storage period for goods in a bonded warehouse is set at two years. If the products have not been sold within this period, the warehouse owner is obliged to either export them or transfer them to another customs regime within one month, paying the relevant legislative fees.
The government hopes that this reform will help increase the transparency of customs procedures, reduce logistics costs, and speed up the delivery of imported goods, thereby stimulating the development of e-commerce. Plans were previously announced for the experimental implementation of a new marketplace operating mechanism through the bonded warehouse system in Uzbekistan between 2026 and 2028, which will allow customs duties to be collected only upon the actual sale of the goods to the end consumer.
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis approved a law on July 10th that provides for Uzbekistan's accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement. This step marks the country's twentieth international treaty in the field of intellectual property.
The new document significantly eases the process for local producers to enter international markets by minimizing bureaucratic complexities when registering unique goods outside the country. According to information from the Ministry of Justice press service, a 'one-window' system is being implemented through the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Exporters will no longer need to submit numerous separate documents to various agencies in dozens of countries. Now, it is sufficient to send one application, which will be valid across the entire territory covered by the agreement. This new procedure will reduce business costs for foreign brand registration by an average of a quarter.
International protection now covers not only fully produced products but also goods whose fame is closely linked to a specific region. Currently, 36 such trademarks are registered in Uzbekistan, including Chust knives, Samarkand bread, Margilan adras, and Khorezm melons. The new regulation will ensure reliable protection of these trademarks against counterfeiting abroad and accelerate the republic's accession to the World Trade Organization.
In addition, on Thursday, July 9th, the senate approved a number of other laws. These include initiatives aimed at tightening fire safety requirements, as well as laws on the protection of women and children from violence and 'On Social Work.'
The authorities of Uzbekistan plan to fully digitize the activities of markets and trade complexes by creating a unified electronic platform, E-bozor.
E-bozor will enable online contract signing for rentals, allow monitoring of available trading spaces, and increase the transparency of financial transactions. The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a corresponding resolution that provides for the phased transition of markets to electronic systems, covering service payments and rental of trading points.
All types of payments, including rent, one-time fees, and service payments, will be made through a transparent digital system. Information about trading grounds and locations will be entered into a common database, and rental agreements will be converted into electronic form. Additionally, an online monitoring function for market operation will appear. As part of the infrastructure update, automatic payment systems will be installed in parking lots and toilets, and illegal constructions will be eliminated, along with landscaping work on the territories.
Initially, the E-bozor platform will operate in test mode starting from October 1, 2026, integrating with the 'Solik' system. Full launch is planned for March 1, 2027. Through this system, users will be able to view market data, find available trading spots, and review announcements. The platform will also provide the ability to send electronic requests to the market administration and receive official responses.
The Tax Committee will be responsible for the development and control of the platform's operation. It is expected that the introduction of digital technologies will help reduce the volume of the shadow economy in this sector. Previously, Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a plan aimed at halving the shadow economy by 2030.
