MPs reject draft law on food safety over concerns about child-targeted labeling

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has rejected the draft law “On Food Safety”, citing concerns over how products “not recommended for children” would be labeled and advertised.

According to the press service of the lower house of parliament, the bill was intended to replace the existing law “On the Quality and Safety of Food Products”, which has been in force since 1997. Its authors said the new version aimed to modernize the legal framework in line with contemporary requirements, international principles, standards, and best practices.

The bill outlined key aspects of national food safety policy and clarified the responsibilities of state bodies. It aligned the procedures for developing and applying sanitary measures, rules, and regulations with international standards.

It also defined general requirements for the production, packaging, repackaging, and labeling of food products. Provisions were included to ensure traceability during storage, transportation, and distribution.

The draft law also established the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of food business operators, including producers, processors, suppliers, storage facilities, retailers, users, and waste handlers.

Additionally, it proposed creating an “open and transparent” electronic registry to monitor and control the food supply chain, in line with World Trade Organization guidelines and the experience of developed countries.

The bill sought to eliminate “excessive bureaucratic procedures” in food safety control. It would have removed the requirement to obtain sanitary-epidemiological conclusions, veterinary certificates, and certificates of conformity from the Technical Regulation Agency.

Manufacturers would also have been permitted to use alternative shelf life labels such as “best before” or “use by” alongside the traditional “expiration date.”

However, the most contentious part of the bill concerned product labeling. Lawmakers raised objections to proposed requirements that food packaging and advertising include warnings for products “not recommended for minors.”

Ilhom Abdullayev, a member of the Milliy Tiklanish party, pointed out that Uzbek legislation does not define the term “school age” and criticized the phrase “marketing materials” as overly vague.

Only 61 MPs – just under half of those present – voted in favor of the draft. The bill was returned for revision “taking into account the comments raised.”