The Senate has approved a law envisaging a ban on the import and circulation of electronic cigarettes in Uzbekistan. According to the law, such actions will be subject to administrative and criminal liability. In aggravated cases, the accused may face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

At the Senate's sixth plenary session, the draft law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aimed at Further Strengthening Requirements for the Circulation of Certain Types of Tobacco Products and Devices for the Consumption of Tobacco and Nicotine” was discussed.

The law was adopted by the lower house of parliament in the first reading on January 7, and in the second and third readings on January 24.

The law consists of six articles and introduces amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Law “On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products.”

According to Article 37 of the Law “On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products,” administrative and criminal liability is established for violations related to the illegal circulation of smokeless tobacco products, nicotine consumption devices — including electronic cigarettes — in Uzbekistan.

Administrative liability includes confiscation of the items and fines ranging from 37.5 million to 75 million UZS.

Criminal liability is imposed if the offense is committed again after an administrative penalty has already been applied. In such cases, penalties include a fine ranging from 150 million to 225 million UZS, up to three years of correctional labor, or up to five years of imprisonment.

In aggravated circumstances — such as large or very large quantities, group involvement, repeated offenses, or abuse of official position — the penalty may extend up to 12 years of imprisonment.

At the same time, if a person voluntarily reports their offense to the authorities and hands over the prohibited products, they will be exempt from liability.

Criminal and administrative liability is also being introduced for the illegal circulation of heated tobacco systems.

It is also noted that wholesale trade in tobacco products must be conducted by notifying the authorized state body about the commencement of such activity, and retail trade must be carried out by notifying the tax authorities.

Reportedly, over the past four years, Uzbekistan has imported 5.4 million electronic cigarettes worth $28.5 million — an 80-fold increase compared to previous years.

According to research, in addition to nicotine, electronic cigarettes contain 80 types of chemical compounds and heavy metals that are carcinogenic and toxic, posing serious harm to both human health and the environment.

In particular, along with the increased dependence on nicotine in the body:

• in children and adolescents, it can impair brain development, reduce intelligence, learning ability, and cognitive skills, and lead to the development of aggressive behavior;

• it can cause poisoning in the bronchopulmonary system (asthma, bronchitis, “eosinophilic pneumonia”), lead to fatal inflammation, cancer, and a condition known as “popcorn lung”;

• it may trigger gastrointestinal cancers, disrupt the functions of the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver, and contribute to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attack;

• the chemical compounds and substances may have a mutagenic effect on the body, damaging DNA structure, weakening the immune system, reducing female reproductive capacity, and causing hereditary disabilities or fetal death.

In this regard, the need to ban the circulation of nicotine consumption devices, including electronic cigarettes and liquids for them, within the territory of Uzbekistan, and to establish liability for such violations, has arisen.

The law has been approved by the senators and sent to the president for signing. Source: gazeta.uz