A press conference was held in Tashkent on the stages of introducing digital labeling of goods in Uzbekistan, its main tasks, the importance of labeling for protecting public health and the rights of entrepreneurs, and the system’s plans for the future.
As part of the event, acting Head of the department for control of product labeling of the Tax Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Akhmadbek Fayziev, answered some questions regarding the illegal market of tobacco products. Fayziev emphasized that tobacco and alcohol products in Uzbekistan have the highest level of shadow turnover, and listed the measures that the State Tax Committee intends to take to solve this problem.
“ Our main task now is to identify unscrupulous participants in this process from the huge number of tobacco products sold on the Uzbekistan market. This is a lot of work, but it is necessary to develop targeted, specific measures to eliminate the problem of illegal trade and the entry of smuggled products into the market. After systematization and identification of this segment, measures will be taken against unscrupulous traders through explanations, conversations, calls for legalization of business ,” Fayziev said.
He added that at the meeting of the president with entrepreneurs, which took place in January of this year, it was emphasized that the state is aimed at a serious, tough fight against the shadow economy. But as practice shows, a large percentage of shadow turnover falls on that part of the population that cannot officially, legally work.
In this regard, acting The head of the department for control of product labeling of the Tax Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers believes that it is necessary to adhere to the “golden mean” in the issue of illegal trade in tobacco, so as not to harm businessmen and entrepreneurs.
“ We are ready to adhere to a strict policy towards these individuals, punishing them, confiscating products, but we also understand that this can affect the well-being of people, and the main goal for the State Tax Committee is, first of all, to support entrepreneurship and protect the interests of businessmen “- commented Fayziev.
In his opinion, the introduction of digital marking plays a big role in this aspect and provides great benefits for both the state and businessmen.
Fayziev emphasized that digital labeling is a tool that allows you to completely whitewash the tobacco product market, digitize it and, as a result, create equal conditions for entrepreneurs, a competitive environment that will allow manufacturers to protect their interests and produce only high-quality products for the population.
Among the advantages for entrepreneurs who officially label their products, a representative of the Tax Committee named, first of all, the protection of goods from counterfeiting and smuggling. But also, according to him, the labeling system allows for the introduction of modern marketing systems – the state, together with the labeling operator, will work to provide participants with information on the movement and sale of their products, both in terms of regions and in terms of necessary entities.
“ Entities will be able to track which products are currently in demand and which are losing demand. In which region is the demand for certain products higher or lower? All this data is displayed online, and with their help, entrepreneurs can build their marketing strategy and increase its effectiveness ,” concluded Fayziev.
It is worth noting that currently in Uzbekistan the market for smuggled tobacco products is 22.4%. The leader among regions in the distribution of smuggled products is the Fergana Valley. In particular, in Andijan the level of smuggling is 27.2%, in Fergana – 47.2%, in Namangan – 58.2%, in Kokand – 46.2%.
