Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 14 Feb. / Trend, D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan intends to reduce the amount of imported consumer products by expanding its production in domestic enterprises, a source in the government circles told Trend, with reference to the decree by the head of state.
According to the decree on "Measures for the further improvement of competitiveness of domestic products and the facilitation of the fight against the smuggling of goods," the relevant ministries and agencies are charged with the critical review of the list and range of imported consumer goods by the end of February and must submit proposals for the drastic reduction of the list and the volume of their imports to the Cabinet of Ministers, the source said.
This should be accompanied by the expansion of the scope and range of food and non-food items produced by domestic producers within special programs.
The State Customs Committee (SCC) and the State Tax Committee (STC), as well as other agencies have been instructed to make proposals to the government for additional expansion of the list of consumer goods, marked with special control identification signs.
Starting July 1, provisions, personal hygiene items and other consumer products imported to Uzbekistan, listed in the document approved by the Cabinet, must have mandatory labeling in the national language provided by the manufacturer.
As previously reported, in early 2012, Uzbekistan has introduced compulsory, prior to putting on sale, marking of imported home appliances with special control identification marks, reflecting the official customs border-cross and corresponding customs clearance. From July 1, sale of household appliances without labeling was banned.
The STC and the department for combating tax, currency crimes and money laundering under the Prosecutor General's Office in conjunction with the SCC is committed to develop and approve specific additional measures by March to prevent the implementation of the retail trade of counterfeit and smuggled goods.