Advertisements for loans and microloans in Uzbekistan will include a warning about financial risks.

In Uzbekistan, mandatory financial risk warnings will be introduced in loan and microloan advertisements. The corresponding amendments to the Law "On Advertising" were approved by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on August 7.

These amendments are necessary due to the growth of consumer lending and the increasing debt burden. According to the Central Bank, by January 1, 2026, the number of microloan recipients from commercial banks reached almost 2.7 million people, a 37% increase from the previous year. The average number of microloan agreements per borrower increased from 1.7 to 1.9.

The report on the law emphasized that advertising of credit products should not only inform consumers about the loan terms but also warn consumers about the potential consequences of misjudging their solvency and defaulting on their debt. Senator Uktamzhon Akhunov noted: "There is a need to ensure that credit product advertisements warn consumers that failure to correctly assess their solvency and default on debt obligations may lead to financial risks."

The amendments affect more than just credit advertising. It is proposed to classify information aimed at improving the insurance literacy of the public and entrepreneurs as social information. Furthermore, authorized government agencies will be able to advertise such social information. The authors of the law expect these changes to expand citizens' access to reliable information about insurance services, increase trust in them, and simultaneously improve awareness of the financial risks associated with loans among the public and entrepreneurs.

Article 43 of the Law "On Advertising" is supplemented with a requirement for a mandatory warning when advertising loans, including microloans. "Advertisements for loans, including microloans, must contain a warning that failure to fulfill debt obligations for such services may lead to financial risks." "Such a warning must occupy at least 10% of the main advertising space or time," the new regulation states.

A more general requirement is also being introduced for financial services advertising: it must include a warning that the use of such services and failure to fulfill obligations may create financial risks.

During the discussion, Senator Pokiza Akhmedzhanova raised the issue of monitoring compliance with the 10% warning space requirement. Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection Ulugbek Davletov explained that a similar mechanism is already in place in current legislation. "According to the similar legislation, warnings and additional information must occupy 10% of the advertising space. Such requirements are currently established, in particular, for pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, and concerts and entertainment events," he noted, adding that monitoring similar warnings in financial services advertising should not pose significant difficulties.

The committee representative also pointed out that standard sizes for outdoor advertising already exist, such as city (2 square meters), billboard (18 square meters), and mega-size (50 square meters), allowing for the application of specific mechanisms for monitoring the required warning area.

The Committee for the Development of Competition and Consumer Protection is also developing a mechanism for monitoring online advertising using artificial intelligence. "Our committee is currently developing a mechanism for monitoring online advertising using artificial intelligence. We plan to implement this mechanism starting January 1," said Ulugbek Davlatov. He added that the system will allow for promptly identifying compliance with the requirement that warnings occupy at least 10% of the advertisement and monitoring such ads.