Article 26. Special Considerations with Respect to the Use and Sale of Precious Stones

The characteristics of precious stones shall be determined in the process of sorting precious stones, their primary classification and primary assessment (in the case of import of precious stones into the Republic of Uzbekistan and their export from the Republic of Uzbekistan), as well as upon completion of the production of products (items) from precious stones. The procedure for identifying precious stones shall be established by the Assay Chamber.

Subjects of industrial mining and subjects of artisanal mining shall have the right to transfer precious stones under an agreement for sorting, primary classification and primary evaluation to other subjects of industrial mining or artisanal mining entities that have the ability to independently sort, primary classify and primary evaluate mined raw precious stones.

Loose precious stones weighing more than 0.3 carats which are sold through trade facilities shall be subject to mandatory certification.

Certified precious stones shall include precious stones that have been certified by an independent gemological center (laboratory) and have an appropriate quality confirmation - a gemological certificate issued in accordance with the procedure established by legislation, confirming the guarantee of the authenticity and quality of a precious stone, containing information about the color group, purity, quality of cutting and polishing, weight and other features of the precious stone.

Sale of loose precious stones shall be carried out only in cut form.

Cut precious stones (over 0.3 carats) to be sold must be individually packaged.

Transactions with precious stones, the classification characteristics of which have not been determined, shall not be allowed.

Precious stones unsuitable for the manufacture of jewelry and other products from precious metals and precious stones shall be used as products for industrial purposes without restrictions in the manner prescribed by legislation. The criteria and procedure for classifying precious stones as unsuitable for the manufacture of jewelry and other products from precious metals and precious stones shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs shall submit information about their transactions with raw precious stones to the Assay Chamber for keeping records of such transactions, in the manner prescribed by legislation.