Uzbekistan is launching a large-scale reform of its environmental assessment system. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 234, adopted on May 11, 2026, establishes the practical basis for implementing the revised Law on Environmental Review, which was approved a year earlier.
The main goal of this document is to simplify processes for enterprises, increase the transparency of environmental inspections, and bring national practice in line with the country's international obligations.
One of the key changes is the reduction of the number of environmental review categories from four to one. This means that thousands of small businesses whose activities have a minimal impact on the environment will no longer be required to undergo the inspection procedure. Furthermore, facilities will be classified by sectors, which is intended to eliminate ambiguities in the application of legislation that enterprises and experts previously faced.
The state process of environmental review is being fully transferred to the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services (EPIGU), making the procedure more predictable and transparent. The resolution also enshrines legal mechanisms defining the rights and obligations of participants in the review process, procedures for collective consideration of disputed environmental conclusions, and rules for applying international instruments, including obligations arising from the Paris Agreement, the Basel Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Another aspect of the reform focuses on public participation in decisions of environmental significance. New regulations for public hearings and public environmental reviews are designed to strengthen democratic participation while ensuring Uzbekistan fulfills its obligations under the Aarhus Convention.
The resolution establishes rules for the activities of organizations preparing project documentation, including the introduction of a rating system and the issuance of qualification certificates. Additionally, it defines requirements for organizations engaged in project development, mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness and quality of their work and project documentation, as well as qualification requirements and certification procedures for their specialists.
A separate part of the reform is dedicated to strategic environmental assessment—one of the most important tools of international environmental management. New procedures for preparing reports on strategic environmental assessment and verifying their quality aim to enhance the environmental sustainability of state programs, policy concepts, territorial planning documents, and urban development plans.
According to 2025 data, state bodies responsible for environmental review issued 49,620 environmental conclusions. Approximately 700 projects did not meet environmental requirements. The authors of the reform expect that introducing mandatory qualification certification for project developers and implementing a rating system for project organizations will improve the quality of documentation and reduce the number of projects that do not comply with environmental standards. The Cabinet of Ministers expects that integrating modern international mechanisms into the environmental assessment system will strengthen environmental protection, reduce environmental risks, and contribute to creating a healthy and safe environment for future generations.
Uzbekistan has updated the digital security certificates used in biometric passports by integrating changes into the International Civil Aviation Organization system.
This update is designed to facilitate faster document control at border crossings and reduce the likelihood of technical issues when scanning these passports outside the country, thereby enhancing overall travel security for citizens.
A delegation from the Personalization Center, which is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan's Migration and Personalization Department, traveled to the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization located in Montreal, Canada, on July 21. During this visit, specialists modernized crucial digital certificates that ensure the protection of biometric passports.
The update concerned the PKI system—Public Key Infrastructure—as well as the international ICAO PKD registry, which serves as a channel for information exchange between states for the verification of electronic documents. All completed work complies with the requirements of ICAO standard Doc 9303.
Upon completion of the process, the certificates gained automatic availability for all countries that are participants in the ICAO PKD system. This guarantees that border services of various countries can promptly and without failures verify the authenticity of Uzbek biometric passports. Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasized that this work will strengthen the integrity of the information contained in the documents, increase their security, and make citizens' foreign travels more comfortable and safe.
A unified regulation for conducting laboratory tests has been adopted in Uzbekistan, which is applied during the construction, restoration, and repair of automobile roads. These changes are designed to increase the level of supervision over the quality of road works and prevent situations of conflict of interest during their acceptance.
The regulation was officially registered by the Ministry of Justice on July 20. Now, contracting firms are obliged to carry out continuous laboratory monitoring of quality. If a company does not have its own laboratory, it must enter into an agreement with an independent institution to perform these tasks.
Furthermore, the client has the right to engage certified laboratories to check compliance of the completed works with established standards. When selecting such laboratories, guidance must be followed according to the legislation on public procurement. Special attention is paid to the principle of openness: the client is strictly prohibited from using laboratories belonging to the contractor or those engaged by them, which serves as a measure against conflict of interest and guarantees an objective assessment.
In Uzbekistan, the introduction of plastic waste into road construction is also being discussed. The startup 'Eco-asphalt', created by eco-activist Mukadam Bekmuradova, focuses on recycling plastic that was previously considered non-recyclable, with the aim of improving the condition of the road network.
The President of Uzbekistan signed a decree aimed at improving public services and increasing convenience for citizens. This document introduces changes to real estate rights registration rules, expands the capabilities of e-government, and strengthens protection against unwanted advertising.
According to Decree No. PP-265 dated July 15, 2026, administrative liability will no longer be applied to property owners who fail to register their rights on time. Instead, a system of increased registration fees is introduced, the amount of which depends on the duration of the delay.
Rules for obtaining tax benefits when selling housing inherited or received as a gift from a close relative have also been changed. Now, the ownership period is calculated from the date of registration by the deceased or donor, not from the moment the new owner registers.
Citizens will be able to register their place of residence in properties that are under arrest or restrictions on alienation, even without the consent of the pledgee. In this case, the person being registered must first agree to the possibility of canceling this registration at the request of the owner, the pledgee, or an authorized body.
Starting from October 1, 2026, new electronic services for individuals and legal entities will be available through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services my.gov.uz. Users will be able to remotely impose or lift restrictions on the alienation, pledge, or mortgage of their real estate and vehicles.
The new services will also allow users to receive information about all phone numbers and bank cards registered in their name, temporarily disable unused numbers, apply for the termination of mobile services, receive information about paid services linked to their accounts, request banks to block or close cards, and automatically receive notifications about notarial acts performed in their name.
On the same date, the automatic update of citizens' surnames, first names, patronymics, or dates of birth will occur in all state information systems due to interdepartmental electronic data exchange.
The decree also includes measures to strengthen protection against unwanted advertising. Starting from November 1, 2026, legal entities and private individuals can send advertising SMS messages only after receiving written or electronic consent from the recipient. Companies providing services for distributing advertising calls and SMS must operate only after registering their information systems in the State Register of Personal Data Bases.
Furthermore, advertising calls and SMS messages via mobile networks are prohibited between 6:00 PM and 9:00 AM. Mobile operators are obliged to block all or selected advertising calls and messages for subscribers upon request. Failure to comply with these new requirements will be considered a violation of advertising and personal data protection legislation, with liability applied according to the law.
The decree also provides for exempting minors from paying state duty in court when independently filing lawsuits to ensure the protection of their rights.
