Uzbekistan raises fire-safety liability for retail sites

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law on 2 November allowing courts to add compensation of up to 1.32 billion soums ($110.5 thousand) for fire-related death, with the new rules taking effect on 5 February 2027. The amendments also require insurance for markets, shopping complexes and retail-entertainment centers, and introduce independent fire audits.

What can victims claim?

The amendments add a chapter to Uzbekistan’s Fire Safety Law governing compensation for loss caused by violations of fire-safety rules. Responsible parties must reimburse citizens and legal entities for the full damage caused by fires linked to those breaches.

Courts may order an additional payment when a fire causes death, disability or other harm to health. The ceilings use base calculation units, or BRV, currently set at 440,000 soums:

• Death: up to 3,000 BRV, or 1.32 billion soums.
• Group I disability: up to 1,500 BRV, or 660 million soums.
• Other harm to health: up to 600 BRV, or 264 million soums.

These figures are maximum amounts, not automatic awards for each victim. The additional compensation does not replace the liable party’s obligation to repay the actual damage. Claims for harm to life and health take priority over the collection of financial sanctions and fines payable to the state.

What changes for retail sites?

The law makes fire insurance mandatory for owners of markets, shopping complexes and retail and entertainment centers. Cover must include both the buildings themselves and civil liability for harm to the lives and health of third parties, including visitors and others present at the site.

For non-compliance with the mandatory insurance requirements, the law sets fines for officials at 50-75 BRV, or 22 million-33 million soums. A repeat within one year after an administrative sanction raises the range to 75-100 BRV, or 33 million-44 million soums.

Fire insurance remains voluntary for other categories of premises. The Cabinet must approve the procedure and conditions for mandatory insurance within three months after official publication, leaving retailers without the full operating process for now.

What does an independent audit change?

Organizations accredited by the Ministry of Emergency Situations may conduct independent fire audits under contract. A positive finding means state fire inspectors will not check the site for one year, although this relief depends on the audit result.

For operators, a clean audit works like a one-year inspection deferral rather than an exemption. Operational checks may still follow complaints from citizens or organizations, media reports or information from other sources.

Violations during an audit carry fines of 15 BRV, or 6.6 million soums, for citizens and 30 BRV, or 13.2 million soums, for officials. The Cabinet will determine the audit procedure.

How will inspections change?

The law links state inspection frequency to four categories of fire risk:

• Category 1: inspections may occur no more than once a year.
• Category 2: once every two years.
• Category 3: once every three years.
• Category 4: in response to reports of fire-safety violations or when necessary.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations will set the criteria for assigning buildings and structures to these groups. The ministry already handles the accreditation and regulatory framework for the new audit system, which places more weight on certification than routine inspection.

Authorities may suspend an operation after detecting violations. Business operators must receive suspension through a court, except where the measure lasts no more than 10 working days.

What must buildings provide?

Minimum technical fire-safety requirements will apply to buildings and structures, except individual residential homes. Operators must install fire alarms, warning and evacuation systems, smoke protection and fire-suppression equipment under the relevant standards.

Buildings between 28 and 50 meters high must provide smoke-free stairwells, lifts for fire and rescue teams, noncombustible facade finishes and backup power for fire-safety systems. Structures above 50 meters must add safe zones and divide the building into fire compartments.

Before the rules take effect, the Cabinet must approve the mandatory insurance procedure for markets and shopping centers. It must also determine a payment mechanism for lump-sum benefits to firefighters injured on duty and the families of firefighters killed.

The 5 February 2027 deadline gives retailers a clear compliance date, but not yet the full cost of compliance. Insurance terms, inspection criteria and audit procedures still depend on government rules that had not been set out in the law itself.