As of 1 December 2019, Uzbekistan has commenced a pilot project on implementing identification marking for alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. Local manufacturers and importers can voluntary participate in the experiment.
The results of the experiment will be submitted to the Government before 30 June 2020.
The list of products subject to identification marking will be expanded in 2020. It is currently not clear which products will be included into the list.
How will the identification marking procedure be implemented in Uzbekistan?
It will be implemented through the information system for labelling and traceability of goods (“the System”). The operator and administrator of the System is an organisation called CRPT TURON, the founder of which is Centre for the Development of Advanced Technologies LLC (Russian Federation).
The CRPT TURON company is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the System, as well as the configuration of all its components. The company will provide free installation and adjustment of the required marking, server and telecom equipment to the relevant business entities and will ensure the connection of such equipment to the System. This equipment will be connected to the unified information resource base of the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan. CRPT TURON will also be able to function as a fiscal data operator.
How to become a member of the project
The experiment extends to the “participants of the circulation of goods” (“participants”): manufacturers, importers, retailers and wholesalers. The only condition for participation is the availability of an electronic signature and a computer system that is capable to generate and receive electronic documents necessary for the interaction with the System.
Participation in the experiment is voluntary. Those who wish to participate should submit an application to the System. This can even be done after the start of the project. To register as a participant into the Register of Participants, you must send an application to the administrator via communication channels or such an application on the System website. The information that is to be included into the application depends on the type of a participant. For example, wholesalers and retailers should, among other things, indicate the registration numbers of their online cash-registration numbers (KKM numbers).
If the application meets all the requirements, the administrator will include the participant into the register, within two hours from the moment of the receipt of the application, then opens a personal account for the participant and notifies the participant about this.
Then the manufacturer / importer must enter the information about the products subject to identification marking into the Product Register and send it to the Administrator or do it directly on the System website. The information that is required includes:
- product name;
- product codes, GS1 barcode - 128, as well as product codes in accordance with the type of packaging or consumer packaging;
- type of packaging / consumer packaging.
Labelling Rules
The manufacturer / importer receives the marking codes from the administrator upon request, which indicates:
- product code assigned when the product was included into the product register;
- the number of requested codes;
- type of packaging / container: consumer, group or transport.
After receiving the list of marking codes, the participant converts the codes into the means of identification and puts them on the product packaging / container.
Manufacturers and importers must independently label products and submit information to the System.
The manufacturer applies the identification tool on the packaging / container with a technical device and on a specially designated area (at least 5 x 5 mm) on the main label or counter-label glued to the packaging / container directly on the production line.
When importing, the importer can carry out marking by agreement with the manufacturer by applying the Data Matrix code in the above order or by sticking a sticker with the Data Matrix code. Also, he can independently affix stickers with Data Matrix in a customs warehouse before the goods are placed into the release mode for free circulation on the market of Uzbekistan.
On group and transport packaging, an identification marking is applied to the front or side at the discretion of the manufacturer / importer.
For the period of the pilot project, the costs associated with labelling, as well as the technical and software expenses for further tracking of the goods, are covered by the Administrator.