Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormChilled (unripened / fresh cheese)
Industry PositionValue-Added Dairy Product
Market
Curd cheese (fresh, unripened cheese/curd under HS 0406) is produced domestically in Uzbekistan and also supplied via imports, with trade data for HS 0406 showing imports far exceeding exports. The National Statistics Committee reports that large enterprises produced 1.6 thousand tons of cheese and cottage cheese in January–November 2025, up 58.1% versus the same period of 2024. Commercial production examples include Tashkent Region (Kibray District) producers such as Kamilka, Samarkand Region dairy operations under Siyob Group (PureMilky), and new capacity such as a cheese-focused plant project (Sadaf Sut) in the Kokand Free Economic Zone. Because fresh curd cheese is a chilled, short-shelf-life product, distribution and retail handling are sensitive to cold-chain and sanitary controls, including market-level hygiene enforcement.
Market RoleNet importer with domestic production
Domestic RoleDomestic dairy staple produced by local processors; large-enterprise output is reported to be rising
Market GrowthGrowing (2024–2025 (January–November comparison))large-enterprise output increased year-on-year in 2025 (Jan–Nov) versus 2024
Risks
Sanitary And Phytosanitary HighUzbekistan can apply origin/transit-based restrictions and bans affecting animal products; USDA APHIS notes a historical Uzbekistan ban (Feb 25, 2008) on imports of animal products originating from or transiting via specified countries due to animal-disease concerns, which can block or disrupt cheese/curd shipments depending on route and origin.Before contracting and booking freight, verify current Uzbekistan dairy import conditions (origin and transit), required certificate templates, and whether route transits any restricted territories; align the logistics plan and documents with the competent Uzbek authority’s requirements.
Animal Health MediumTransboundary livestock diseases (e.g., FMD) can drive sudden changes in veterinary import controls and trading-partner restrictions for dairy products; Uzbekistan is not listed among WOAH’s FMD-free Members, which can increase scrutiny for certain animal-product trade flows.Maintain robust veterinary attestations and supplier animal-health documentation; monitor WOAH updates and importing-country veterinary notices when exporting from Uzbekistan.
Food Safety MediumDomestic enforcement actions have reported large-scale seizures of expired/unsanitary products in markets across Uzbekistan, and noted infrastructure gaps such as missing specialized pavilions for meat and dairy and incomplete operation of veterinary/sanitary labs in some markets, increasing spoilage and compliance risk for chilled dairy products.Use audited cold-chain distributors, restrict sales to channels with adequate chilled infrastructure, and implement retailer/market handling checks (temperature and shelf-life controls).
Regulatory Compliance MediumUzbekistan’s import clearance for food/animal-origin products can require sanitary-epidemiological and/or veterinary documentation, and procedural changes (e.g., updated sanitary certificate issuance rules and veterinary state-service workflows) can create delay risk if documentation is incomplete or mismatched.Run a pre-shipment compliance checklist (documents, labeling, certificates, competent-authority contacts) and allow buffer time for administrative issuance/verification steps.
Labor & Social- Uzbekistan has a well-documented history of state-imposed forced and child labor in the cotton harvest; ILO third-party monitoring reported eradication of systemic forced and child labor in the 2021 cotton production cycle, and the Cotton Campaign lifted its Uzbek Cotton Pledge/boycott call in March 2022 while still warning that broader labor-rights risks can remain. This is a cross-sector ESG and reputational due-diligence theme for Uzbekistan even when sourcing dairy products.
FAQ
Is Uzbekistan mainly an importer or exporter for cheese and curd (HS 0406)?Uzbekistan is mainly an importer in the HS 0406 “cheese and curd” category: 2023 trade data shows imports far larger than exports, with Russia and Belarus among the largest suppliers, while exports are very small.
What are common compliance steps for importing cheese/curd products into Uzbekistan?Common compliance steps include confirming whether a sanitary and epidemiological certificate is required for the product and ensuring required veterinary documentation for animal-origin goods is in place. Uzbekistan’s veterinary authority also provides state services related to veterinary certification, and requirements should be confirmed with the competent authorities before customs clearance.
Is Halal certification relevant for curd cheese sold in Uzbekistan?Halal can be relevant depending on the sales channel and buyer requirements: Uzbekistan has reported allowing the “Halal” mark for products/services certified under SMIIC-aligned standards (with the policy reported to take effect from May 1, 2025) and has reported the establishment/recognition of an internationally accredited Halal certification body (UzTest).