The Ministry of Justice announced the taking effect of amendments to the Restricting Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products Law, which have now imposed a complete ban on distribution of electronic cigarettes and liquids in Uzbekistan.
The amendments to the Criminal Code provide for penalties for manufacturing, purchase, storage, transportation, sale, manufacture, import, or export of tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes, if their distribution is prohibited in the country. If such actions are committed on a large scale or repeatedly, and after administrative punishment, the offender faces:
- a fine of 300 to 500 basic units;
- from 2 to 3 years corrective labor;
- from 3 to 5 years house arrest;
- or imprisonment for 3-5 years.
A person shall be exempt from liability if they voluntarily report the violation to government bodies and surrender the prohibited products.
It is worth noting that the ban does not apply to tobacco heating systems.
