As of July 1, a regulation has come into effect in Tajikistan requiring certain imported goods to have electronic coding. This process will be implemented in four phases, two of which are already in progress, Khurshed Karimzoda, head of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus this during a news conference in Dushanbe on February 12.
This initiative was reportedly launched under the Government’s decree dated June 12, 2023, titled "On Electronic Coding, the Activities of Operators Tracking Goods Circulation, and Their Monitoring Process."
According to this decree, the current stage applies to four categories of products:
- Spirit, alcoholic, and energy drinks;
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices;
- Drinking water and cooling beverages;
- Household appliances.
The Customs Service has not disclosed whether additional imported goods will be included in the future.
What is electronic coding?
Electronic coding is a QR code applied to imported goods. The code contains information about the manufacturer, the product itself, the production date, the importer, and other relevant details.
Since July 1 of last year, mandatory electronic coding has been introduced for all types of spirits, alcoholic, and energy drinks. As of January 1 of this year, the requirement has also been extended to pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The Customs Service announced that mandatory electronic coding for drinking water and cooling beverages will be introduced starting January 1, 2026.
Importers of household appliances must prepare for the implementation of electronic coding by January 1, 2027.
Who codes the goods?
In Tajikistan, the codes are produced by Tekhnologiya Group (Technology Group) LLC.
After receiving the codes from this company, business operators send them to the manufacturer, who is responsible for affixing them to the goods exported to Tajikistan.
Domestic importers also have the option to apply the codes themselves once the goods arrive in the country—while they are still stored in temporary warehouses at the border.
