Center for State Ecological Expertise

To this end, on April 2 of this year, a press conference was held to discuss the new draft version of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Environmental Expertise."

The event was attended by Gayratjon Mukhamedov, Director General of the State Environmental Expertise Center, Adkham Kurbanov, Deputy Head of the Environmental Control Inspectorate of the Ministry of Ecology, representatives of the World Bank, Deputy Directors of the Center, industry experts, and media representatives.

The main goal of the event was to inform the public through the media about the positive outcomes expected for citizens and business entities from the adoption of the improved legislative draft.

Key updates to the legislation:

1. The current law is titled "On Environmental Expertise", while the new draft is titled “On State Environmental Expertise and Environmental Impact Assessment” as it covers all aspects of environmental assessment;

2. Obligations to take public opinion into account when issuing environmental expertise conclusions have been introduced (based on the requirements of the Aarhus Convention);

3. Criteria for Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment have been included (based on the requirements of the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment);

4. The current four hazard categories have been reduced to three, in line with international standards;

5. Instead of relying on sub-legislative acts such as Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions No. 541 and No. 14, a directly applicable Law has been developed.

Expected outcomes:

1. Coverage of all aspects of assessing the negative environmental impact of facilities;

2. Improved quality of environmental expertise conclusions and ensured active public participation;

3. Establishment of a reliable environmental assessment system for potential investors;

4. Introduction of procedures for Strategic Environmental Assessment of state programs, master plans, and roadmaps;

5. Implementation of a rating system for project organizations;

6. Introduction of a unified automated information system for Environmental Impact Assessment.

Additionally, during the press conference, detailed information was provided and discussions held on the amendments and additions to the current law “On Environmental Expertise,” its alignment with international standards, including public participation, and the requirements of the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions, as well as the Strategic Environmental Assessment protocol.