A permit procedure for transplanting trees and shrubs will be introduced

Protection of the environment, fauna and flora is being strengthened

The 12th plenary session of the Senate considered the Law "On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aimed at Strengthening the Protection of the Environment, Fauna and Flora, and Ensuring the Rational Use of Natural Resources."

As noted, the number of such offenses is increasing due to the disproportionate nature of administrative and criminal liability measures for violations of certain types of environmental protection legislation in relation to the level of social danger of the committed act and the magnitude of the resulting consequences.

The law introduces additions and amendments to a number of laws.

In particular, the Law "On Nature Protection" stipulates that legal entities engaged in activities belonging to categories I and II of environmental impact must enter data from automatic monitoring stations installed at pollution sources into the unified geoinformation database of the State Environmental Monitoring System in real time.

The Law "On Waste" also stipulates that citizens must remove waste dumped in an undesignated place or reimburse the costs associated with waste removal in accordance with the procedure established by law.

Amendments are being made to the Law "On Licensing, Permitting and Notification Procedures" to introduce a procedure for issuing permits for the transplantation of trees and shrubs that are not part of the state forest fund.

Criminal penalties are being tightened for polluting the natural environment, violating the terms of use of land and subsoil resources, and damaging or destroying crops, forests, trees, or other plants.

Administrative liability is also provided for violations such as burying irrigation systems in populated areas and arbitrarily concreting a plot of land with soil and green cover adjacent to an apartment building.

According to the senators, the adoption of this Law will serve to ensure environmental protection and create a favorable ecological environment for the population, prevent violations and effectively organize state environmental control, preserve biodiversity, and ensure the guaranteed protection of natural resources.

Senators approved the Act.