The state is undertaking a far-reaching transformation of its technical regulation and standardization system, marking a decisive shift toward international practices and market-based controls. The reforms, which have already gained momentum over the past four years, are designed to streamline business operations, reduce regulatory barriers, and position the country as an increasingly competitive hub for manufacturing and trade in Central Asia.
Progress and recognition on the international stage
Over the past four years, half of Uzbekistan’s national standards have achieved full harmonization with international requirements — a significant achievement that reflects sustained effort to align domestic frameworks with global benchmarks. The country’s accreditation system has climbed to 29th place among 185 nations, while the recognition of test results from national laboratories has expanded to 37 countries, including Germany, South Korea, and Japan. These metrics underscore Uzbekistan’s growing credibility within international trade networks.
Complementing these advances, the government has already dismantled mandatory state registration requirements for 156 high-risk product categories and slashed the number of goods subject to obligatory certification by 27 percent. These moves have created a markedly fairer competitive environment and reduced bureaucratic friction — a change that businesses themselves have acknowledged and welcomed.
From state control to market-driven oversight
A fundamental shift is underway in how Uzbekistan supervises product quality and safety. Currently, inspections of enterprise activities during product assessment often trigger entrepreneur complaints. Under existing rules, when products fail to meet requirements, the authorities restrict not just the product itself but the producer’s entire operations — an approach viewed as disproportionate and cumbersome.
Developed economies employ risk-based market control systems in which manufacturers declare compliance with standards and assume full responsibility for product quality and safety. Uzbekistan is preparing to transition toward this model through a phased phase-out of state control and introduction of market surveillance mechanisms. A dedicated draft law, “On Market Control,” has been prepared to enable this transition. “Agreed-upon certification procedures should be significantly simplified. The current cumbersome system drives up production costs unnecessarily, creates room for bureaucratic inefficiency, and provides conditions for corruption. We propose implementing risk-based assessment, eliminating mandatory certification for remaining product categories, and gradually shifting to a declaration system,” according to statements made during government consultations with business stakeholders.
Accelerated adoption of international standards across key industries
Uzbekistan’s most ambitious initiative involves a staggered rollout of international standards across virtually all manufacturing and service sectors. Currently, the country maintains over 33,000 standards, but approximately half of them are outdated or fall short of international requirements. The government has committed to retiring 6 technical regulations entirely while revising 29 others.
Beginning July 1, 2026, international standards will be fully implemented across textile, leather, furniture, electrical, automotive, and information technology industries. The rollout continues in 2027 for oil and gas, metallurgy, transport, and building materials sectors, followed by energy, chemicals, environmental protection, and services in 2028. This phased approach, combined with concrete timelines for adoption — 4,460 international standards planned for this year, over 2,500 for next year, and 817 for 2028 — demonstrates the state’s determination to modernize rapidly without overwhelming enterprises.
Digitalization and institutional restructuring
Behind these policy changes lies a commitment to digital transformation. Beginning in 2026, Uzbekistan plans to fully digitize the standards development process through an “E-Standardization” information system. This move will dramatically compress approval timelines. Under the current paper-based system, securing consensus from government agencies, enterprises, and other stakeholders can take up to six months. Digital processing is expected to collapse these timelines significantly while enhancing transparency.
Institutionally, the government has decided to streamline the Technical Regulation Agency by reducing its organizational units from five to three. The “Uztest” center will be closed, and the Accreditation Center will be transferred under Cabinet of Ministers oversight. More significantly, testing and certification services are being opened to the private sector. Currently, 207 private testing laboratories and 73 certification institutions operate across all industries. To foster healthy competition and strengthen capabilities, leading international companies — including Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas, and TÜV — are being actively recruited to establish operations in Uzbekistan.
What this means for international business
For international companies in furniture, construction, textiles, leather, electrical manufacturing, and related sectors, these developments signal a fundamentally more predictable and internationally aligned business environment in Uzbekistan. The harmonization of standards with global benchmarks eliminates costly dual-compliance scenarios. The introduction of international testing firms reduces dependence on local monopolies and ensures access to world-recognized certification pathways. The shift toward market-based control and declaration systems—rather than heavy-handed state inspection regimes — aligns Uzbekistan with practices in developed markets, making it easier for foreign producers and traders to operate competitively.
As Uzbekistan prepares for WTO accession, these reforms address a critical prerequisite: bringing the technical regulation system into full conformity with international obligations. For manufacturers and traders already active in the region, and for those considering market entry, Uzbekistan’s commitment to international standards represents a clear pathway to reduced regulatory friction and improved market access across Central Asia.
