The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan has approved numerous amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses in the first reading.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the draft amendments were discussed during the plenary session of the parliament in Baku. Under the proposed new regulations, officials will face a fine of 3,000 manats for employing individuals with drug addiction in sectors where such employment is prohibited, or for extending their existing employment contracts. Additionally, a fine of 1,000 manats will be imposed on officials for hiring individuals in restricted sectors without a medical examination certificate.
The amendments also introduce penalties related to food balance reporting. Farmers and suppliers who fail to enter agricultural production data into the designated information system once a year, or monthly data regarding greenhouses, cold storage warehouses, and grain elevators by the 10th of the following month, will face fines: 100 manats for individuals, 200 manats for officials, and 500 manats for legal entities. Furthermore, entities failing to provide requested food production, processing, storage, import, export, and sales data within 15 business days will be fined 200 manats for officials and 500 manats for legal entities. Repeat offenses within a year will carry higher penalties, while individuals who rectify the violations within 10 business days will be exempted from administrative liability.
The bill also targets false reporting on the cutting of shrubs, with fines ranging from 500 manats for individuals to 5,000 manats for legal entities. Additionally, financial leasing entities (excluding banks and non-bank credit institutions) that fail to submit reports to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan will face fines between 1,000 and 5,000 manats. Following discussions, the document was put to a vote and passed in its first reading.
