Alcohol regulations in Uzbekistan

Licences needed

Licence for the production of ethyl alcohol and/or Licence for the production of alcoholic products (spirits/liquor)

Authority

Inspectorate for Regulation of the Alcohol and Tobacco Market

Documents

Application submitted via the 'License' information system (license.gov.uz), enterprise charter and state registration, documentation proving ownership or long-term lease of compliant industrial premises, equipment passport and technical specifications, certificates of state metrological verification of measurement equipment, sanitary-epidemiological conclusions, and fire safety compliance certificates

Fees

State duty set according to the Law 'On State Duty' depending on production category

Time to obtain

Up to 20 working days

Who can import

Only legally registered resident commercial entities (legal entities) in Uzbekistan holding wholesale distribution authorization; individual entrepreneurs are prohibited from importing or wholesaling spirits

Licences or registrations

Wholesale licence for strong alcohol, registration in the national foreign trade single window, and registration with the national digital track-and-trace system (Asl Belgisi / CRPT Turon)

Authority

Customs Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Inspectorate for Regulation of the Alcohol and Tobacco Market, and Tax Committee

Documents

Foreign trade purchase contract, invoice/packing list, transport documents (CMR/airway bill), certificate of origin, certificate of conformity, sanitary-epidemiological conclusion, digital marking code order validation, and customs cargo declaration

Fees

Customs processing/clearance fees plus mandatory digital marking code fees (approx. 68 UZS per code without VAT)

Time to obtain

Customs clearance and import permit release typically 3 to 10 working days upon arrival of shipment and verification

Required: yes Process: Importers must obtain a Certificate of Conformity and a Sanitary-Epidemiological Conclusion prior to market release. This involves laboratory testing of product samples against national safety and quality…

Imports must be cleared by a resident importer of record. Shipments require customs declaration, certificate of origin, certificate of conformity, and sanitary-epidemiological certification. Commercial spirits are subject to…

30%, but not less than 1.00 USD per litre (HS code heading 2208)

Excise tax on imported spirits (HS 2208: vodka, cognac/brandy, liqueurs, and other spirits) is 76,000 UZS per litre (effective 2025/2026; domestic production rate is 44,000 UZS per litre of anhydrous alcohol). Ethyl alcohol…

Retail sales are permitted only by legal entities (private specialized liquor retail stores and supermarkets) and public catering establishments (bars, restaurants, hotels) that submit notifications and pay statutory monthly…

banned (Under Law No. ZRU-844 and amendments, remote sales, e-commerce, and delivery of alcohol products are prohibited, with exemptions strictly limited to natural and sparkling wines).

Consumer packaging must include mandatory product information in the Uzbek language: product name, type, producer name and address, volume, alcohol percentage (% ABV), date of production, ingredients, shelf-life/storage…

Banned. The Law 'On Advertising' (ZRU-776) and Law No. ZRU-844 prohibit commercial advertising and promotional campaigns for distilled spirits across television, radio, print media, outdoor billboards, and the internet. Brand…

Regulated under Uzbek national technical regulations and state standards (O'z DSt / GOST adaptations): Vodka minimum strength is typically 38%–40% ABV; Cognac/Brandy minimum 40% ABV; Whisky minimum 40% ABV; Rum and Gin minimum…

No full dry territorial zones exist at the regional level, but retail sales are prohibited within buffer zones (typically 200 to 500 meters) surrounding educational, medical, and religious institutions. Public consumption is…

Law No. ZRU-844 fully enacted and enforced, establishing 21 as the legal drinking and purchasing age and barring sellers under 21 years old from serving or retailing alcohol. Excise tax on imported distilled spirits was reduced…

Uzbekistan offers an expanding consumer market for premium and super-premium Western distilled spirits (notably Scotch whisky, Cognac, premium vodka, and gin) driven by a burgeoning hospitality sector and supermarket expansion in…

1. Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-844 On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products
2. EY Tax Review: Amendments to the Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2025
3. UzDaily: Excise tax rates on tobacco and alcohol products indexed in Uzbekistan
4. US International Trade Administration: Uzbekistan Commercial Guide - Standards, Marking and Labeling
5. Integrated Customs Tariff of the Republic of Uzbekistan - HS Code 2208