Uzbekistan ASL BELGISI

Uzbekistan is taking proactive measures to improve the healthcare standards in the country and developing an efficient traceability system.

In November 2020, the Government of Uzbekistan published Decree 737, which focused on implementing mandatory serialization for pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco, soft drinks, and appliances by 2022. It also establishes that manufacturers and importers are responsible for the labeling and digital marking of products. To that end, the country kickstarted a 6-month pilot project for serialization in 2021.

To improve the accounting mechanisms in relation to the production, import and circulation of medicines and medical products, ensure their legal circulation, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan in April 2022 approved a resolution on the phase wise introduction of a mandatory system of digital labelling of medicines and medical devices from 2022-25. It is called decree 149.

According to the decree, starting from September 1, 2022, medicines and medical devices of foreign origin can be imported into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan only with the presence of mandatory digital labelling (in secondary packaging). A similar requirement comes into force on November 1, 2022 for medicines in primary packaging.

Uzbekistan’s national digital traceability system is called ASL BELGISI.

The purpose of ASL BELGISI is to guarantee the authenticity and quality of the products purchased by consumers. Consumers can download an app on their smartphones to scan products, report counterfeit or suspect products, and relay feedback about the system.

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Monitoring the labeling and traceability of products as per the ASL BELGISI system is overseen by CRPT Turon. It is the equivalent of the Center for Research in Perspective Technologies (CRPT) in Russia, which manages Russia’s national track-and-trace digital system called Chestny ZNAK.

Uzbekistan’s regulatory requirements are similar to those mandated in Chestny ZNAK. It requires that all domestically produced and imported goods bear unique digital codes called Data Matrix codes.

The responsibility of generating Data Matrix codes rests with CRPT Turon. To use Data Matrix codes, participants must first register with ASL BELGISI. Then, they must describe their products in a national catalog of labeled goods. Once they meet these requirements, they can place an order for the codes.

All participants across the supply chain can trace Data Matrix codes. Here is a summary of the four-step process:

1. First, CPRT Turon assigns a unique Data Matrix code to each product. Then, the manufacturer or importer places it on the packaging.
2. The product’s movements (from the factory to the consumer or point of import) are traced throughout the supply chain by scanning the digital Data Matrix code.
3. Retailers scan these Data Matrix codes when they stock and sell the products.
4. Consumers can use the ASL BELGISI app to scan the Data Matrix code and access product information. This facility allows them to check the product’s authenticity.

Here are the human-readable standards for the information provided alongside the scannable Data Matrix code:

• 14-digit GTIN
• The expiration date of the product. This date must follow the YY/MM/DD format.
• 13-digit serial number
• Batch number or lot number

SUMMARY

The regulatory requirements outlined by ASL BELGISI currently apply to five product categories: tobacco, alcohol (including wine and wine products), beer and brewing products, appliances, medicines, medical devices, water, and soft drinks.

As of January 2022, CRPT Turon has issued nearly 583 million codes for tobacco products, more than 300 million for alcohol products, and almost 143 million for beer products.

These statistics illustrate the success of serialization and traceability regulations in Uzbekistan. The growing numbers indicate that mandatory serialization has become an integral part of the country’s regulatory landscape.