Uzbekistan has introduced a revised law on environmental expertise and impact assessment, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 24. The updated legislation, published on Lex.uz, replaces the 2000 law and introduces key provisions aimed at strengthening environmental protection measures.
The revised law defines essential terms such as environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment while establishing the concept of environmental regulations. The primary objective is to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of economic and other activities on nature and public health.
One of the significant changes is the categorization of environmental impact assessment (EIA) objects into three groups, with the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The submission process for EIA materials and draft environmental standards will now be conducted electronically through the Ministry of Ecology's website, except for sensitive projects, which may still use paper submissions.
The law reduces the maximum duration of state environmental assessments from 30 to 25 working days, with extensions of up to three months for complex cases. The evaluation period begins the day after the assessment fee is paid.
Project initiators are required to finance the studies necessary for environmental impact assessments and must conduct public hearings before the assessment process begins. If participants in these hearings raise reasonable objections, their concerns could serve as grounds for rejecting the project. Additionally, contradictions with environmental regulations or the submission of false information may also lead to rejection.
The law stipulates that approvals for EIA materials will remain valid for three years, while environmental standards projects will be valid for five years. Project developers must report their compliance with assessment requirements to the Ministry of Ecology on a quarterly basis. Non-compliance could result in the suspension of approvals.
To ensure the quality of environmental assessments, organizations developing eco-standards must employ at least two specialists with at least three years of experience in ecology and environmental protection, holding relevant certification.
The new law will take effect on August 25, six months after its publication.
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