On July 18, 2025, by order of the Director of the National Agency for Advanced Projects  No. 3631, the Regulation on the Procedure for Carrying out Courier Service Activities in Ecommerce (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulation”) was approved. The document was adopted in accordance with the Law on E-Commerce and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Measures for the Further Development of the ECommerce Sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan dated December 26, 2024, No. 885, which highlights the priority of digitalizing trade and enhancing e-commerce standards in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Regulation mainly focuses on issues of transparency, safety, and adherence to sanitary standards in goods’ delivery, especially concerning the transportation of food products.

The Regulation introduces several new concepts in the sphere of courier services in ecommerce, such as the information system (IS) of the e-commerce operator, courier, delivery service operator, and delivery service.

 

According to the Regulation, couriers may be individuals, including self-employed persons, who provide goods delivery services under employment contracts or civil law contracts entered into with business entities, sellers, manufacturers, catering establishments, and delivery service operators.

 

A delivery service operator, in turn, must be a resident of the Republic of Uzbekistan who provides goods delivery services under an agreement with e-commerce operators or arranges delivery of orders to customers via couriers. Notably, unlike e-commerce operators, delivery service operators may be not only legal entities, but also individual entrepreneurs.

 

The Regulation sets out several key requirements for courier services in the field of ecommerce:

 

  • Mandatory ordering through the IS of the e-commerce operator.
  • Informing the consumer of the delivery status and the expected arrival time of the courier. In particular, the terms of the delivery service (timeframes, price, methods, delivery area, etc.) must be clearly communicated to the consumer at the time of placing the order.
  • Adherence to the principles of reliability, safety, and timeliness in the provision of delivery services.
  • Establishment of a system for receiving and addressing consumer feedback

(complaints, suggestions, etc.) related to the quality of delivery services.

 

When delivering food products, service providers must comply with special sanitary and hygienic standards, including the use of thermal containers.

 

When delivering the following food products, their separate transportation must be ensured (in separate thermal containers (thermal bags) using compartments or thermal insulation dividers) to prevent direct contact of:

− raw and cooked (finished) products,

− chilled, frozen, and hot foods,

− food and non-food items,

− products with strong odors and other goods.

 

In addition, the Regulation outlines the rights and responsibilities of delivery service operators, emphasizing their obligations towards couriers. The document also establishes the rights and duties of couriers in relation to both operators and consumers. These include informing the delivery service operator, meeting delivery deadlines, ensuring non-disclosure of customers’ personal data, and exercising care in handling the delivered goods.

 

It is noted that couriers can accept cash payments from customers for goods provided that it is stipulated in the contract with the seller or e-commerce operator. When accepting payments, couriers must comply with the requirements of applicable law, including the mandatory use of cash registers or the issuance of a receipt in either electronic or paper form.

 

It is important to note that the Regulation does not apply to public procurement or to transactions on the stock exchange governed by separate legislative acts.

 

The Regulation applies to the delivery of medicines only to the extent that it does not contradict the provisions of the Regulation on the Procedure for the Retail Sale of Medicines and Medical Products approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated April 6, 2017, No. 185 (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulation on the Retail Sale  of Medicines“).

 

According to the Regulation on the Retail Sale of Medicines, only over the counter (OTC) medicines and medical products may be sold through e-commerce platforms within the Republic of Uzbekistan. When selling OTC medicines online, pharmacies are required to publish specific information on their websites and mobile applications, including a list of medicines and medical products subject to sale, instructions for use, prices, and information on available analogues.

 

In addition, special transportation conditions must be followed during the delivery of medicines. Specifically, the delivery vehicle must be technically sound and kept in proper cleanliness. During transportation, established conditions for temperature, humidity, and air circulation in the storage chamber must be strictly maintained to preserve the quality and safety of the medicines.

 

The present Regulation came into effect on June 21, 2025, and from that date shall apply to the activities of courier services providing delivery in the field of e-commerce.

 

 

Contacts:

Zafar Vakhidov

Partner, Vakhidov & Partners

Uzbekistan / Kazakhstan

[email protected] 

 

      

Kamila Sharipova

Senior Associate, Vakhidov & Partners

Uzbekistan      [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

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