At the 14th plenary session of the Senate of Uzbekistan held on April 7, lawmakers reviewed and approved a draft law aimed at strengthening liability for environmental violations. The discussion focused on amendments and additions to existing legislation related to ecology, environmental protection, and the use of natural resources.
During the session, Anvar Tuychiyev highlighted shortcomings in the current system of penalties. He stated that existing fines under the Code of Administrative Responsibility are too low to serve as an effective deterrent. According to him, this has limited their preventive and corrective impact.
Tuychiyev cited examples indicating continued violations despite imposed penalties. In 2025, approximately 300 cases were recorded involving unauthorized riverbed cleaning and bank reinforcement works, even though fines ranging from UZS 20mn (over $1600) to UZS 41mn (over $3300) had been applied. He noted that administrative fines imposed on officials often do not significantly affect the financial position of enterprises, which can contribute to repeated violations.
The senator also pointed to cases where enterprises exceeding permitted emission levels pay relatively small fines—around UZS 2.8mn (over $200)—and continue operations without making substantial changes. This practice, he stated, reduces the effectiveness of enforcement measures.
Additional concerns were raised regarding environmental practices in certain sectors. Reports indicated that some greenhouses in various regions continue to burn waste materials such as used tires, bitumen, fuel oil, synthetic materials, and other non-standard fuels. These activities contribute to air pollution and fall outside existing regulatory controls.
To address these issues, the approved law introduces new provisions to increase accountability. The Law “On Nature Protection” will be supplemented with a new chapter establishing financial sanctions specifically targeting legal entities responsible for environmental violations. These sanctions will be applied by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan when violations are acknowledged.
If a legal entity disputes the sanction or fails to pay within one month of the decision, the case will be referred to court. This mechanism is intended to formalize enforcement procedures and ensure compliance.
The amendments also expand Article 88 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, which addresses violations related to atmospheric air protection. The updated provisions explicitly prohibit the burning of non-fuel materials and waste in unauthorized locations or equipment. This includes materials such as tires, bitumen, fuel oil, synthetic substances, rubber, and similar waste products when used as fuel in greenhouses, industrial facilities, or other settings.
According to the Senate, the adoption of the law is intended to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve compliance with environmental standards, and enhance state control over ecological protection and natural resource management.
