A three-year moratorium on conducting any inspections of small business entities has been introduced in Uzbekistan. However, there are exceptions, which include inspections conducted within the framework of criminal cases, as well as those related to assessing the impact of activities on public health, compliance with labor legislation, consideration of citizens' appeals, VAT reimbursement issues, and enterprise liquidation procedures.
This decree was approved by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on August 27th following the VI Open Dialogue with entrepreneurs. During the moratorium period, any inspections of small businesses carried out in violation of established rules will be deemed illegal, and officials who allowed such violations will be held accountable.
The Business Ombudsman is organizing a special event called 'Effective Control,' during which documents regarding small business inspections conducted over the past three years will be analyzed locally. If violations by supervisory bodies are found as a result of these checks, appropriate actions will be taken. The restoration of entrepreneurs' rights is also provided for if inspections were conducted illegally or in violation of established procedures.
Previously, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his desire to introduce such a moratorium. He pointed out that an examination of five thousand enterprises revealed that more than half of them were subjected to tax inspections two or three times annually, and another 21%—four or more times. Furthermore, entrepreneurs often underwent inspections by representatives of fire, construction, sanitary, quarantine, and energy supervision.