Why is this important
The prohibition of “artificial discounts” protects consumers from manipulation and increases trade transparency. The obligation to indicate the minimum price for 30 days will not allow sellers to inflate prices on the eve of sales. This strengthens control over marketing campaigns and brings the practice closer to the standards of developed countries.
What happened
- It is prohibited to artificially inflate prices with subsequent indication of the initial price as reduced;
- The price before the discount should be equal to the minimum price of the goods for the last 30 days (except for agricultural products);
- Sellers are obliged to provide documentary confirmation of prices at the buyer’s request;
- It is prohibited to change the terms of the promotion after its start;
- It is necessary to clearly indicate the amount of the discount in percentage or monetary terms.
Trading share requirements
Sellers are obliged to indicate in a clear form:
- Promotion duration;
- Names of participating goods;
- Volume of goods;
- Requirements for purchase;
- Additional conditions for receiving discounts.
Special conditions
The Seller is obliged to inform if:
- The volume of goods with a discount is limited;
- The discount is seasonal;
- The discount is related to the condition of the goods (liquidation of old inventory, damage to the packaging, early expiration of the shelf life).
Context
The Competition Committee submitted a draft resolution in June 2025 based on the practices of the USA, Canada, France, Germany, China, South Korea, and Japan in combating “artificial discounts”.
“Artificial discounts” are a common practice where sellers increase the price of a product several days before it is sold, and then reduce it to the previous level or slightly lower, creating the illusion of a profitable purchase. The requirement to specify the minimum price for 30 days makes such manipulation impossible.
The exception for agricultural products is explained by the price volatility of these goods due to seasonality and other factors. The obligation to provide documentary confirmation of prices strengthens the responsibility of sellers and gives consumers a tool to verify the integrity of discounts.
The new rules bring Uzbekistan closer to international consumer protection standards. In the EU, there is a Consumer Rights Directive requiring the indication of the previous price when announcing discounts. Similar rules exist in the US (FTC Act) and other developed countries.
