Uzbekistan introduces new EMC inspection requirement for imported cars

Uzbekistan has introduced a new requirement for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) inspections for cars imported from abroad, affecting vehicles brought in individually or by private entrepreneurs. An employee from UzTest informed QALAMPIR.UZ that the inspection cost is set at 9.088 million soums for gasoline cars and 6.3 million soums for electric cars.

Private entrepreneurs claim that this procedure, though established earlier, was not actively enforced. Some questioned the need for EMC tests for privately imported vehicles when official dealers are exempt, even though they import the same models. According to a businessman, this creates inconsistencies, particularly for popular imported models like BYD, which come from the same production facilities but face different regulatory treatment.

The UzTest representative clarified that the EMC requirement targets informal importers who bring in small batches of cars. The primary purpose of these inspections, required every three years, is to ensure that one vehicle’s electromagnetic emissions do not interfere with others. Official dealerships in Uzbekistan have already completed this inspection process and obtained EMC certification, which requires them to renew their certificates every 3-6 months.

Although private dealers argue that Uzbekistan is the only country implementing such a regulation, with no equivalent in neighboring Kazakhstan, UzTest officials stated that similar checks do occur in Kazakhstan.

In related news, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ahadbek Haydarov announced on October 28 that Uzbekistan is considering a disposal fee for electric car batteries, set to take effect in 2025.