The period for suspending inspections in the field of entrepreneurship will be extended. This issue was reflected in the draft law on amendments to the Law "On Suspension of Inspections in the Field of Entrepreneurship," which was discussed at the plenary session of the Milli Majlis held yesterday.
According to the draft law, inspections conducted in the field of entrepreneurship in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan will be suspended until January 1, 2027.
The aforementioned changes attract attention as a factor directly influencing the mechanisms for conducting inspections, the role of regulatory bodies, the operational capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the overall development dynamics of the country's economy.
In a statement to Modern.az, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Azer Badamov, noted that the mechanism for suspending inspections in the field of entrepreneurship is regulated by law.
“During the period defined by law, planned inspections in the field of entrepreneurship are suspended, but some inspections excluded by law may continue (for example, cases posing a threat to life and health). In the decision part of the decree signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on October 26, 2015, regarding the application of the law, rules have been established for the cases of inspections, exceptions, and by which bodies inspections will be conducted. This primarily refers to the relevant executive authorities for areas where the exception does not apply, while other inspections are intended to be carried out by the Ministry of Economy and its subordinate bodies.”
The deputy emphasized that entrepreneurs should not refrain from complying with laws just because inspections have been suspended:
“Despite the suspension of inspections, the activities of every entrepreneur are monitored remotely. In this regard, if doubts arise regarding the implementation of legal requirements in any area, an inspection is organized in that area in the appropriate manner, and activities are checked.”
The deputy chairman also added that the suspension of inspections should not be understood as the suspension of all inspections:
“There are relevant areas of activity where inspections continue to be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by law. Furthermore, I must note that the suspension of inspections reduces the administrative burden on entrepreneurs, stabilizes the business environment, and improves the investment climate. Risks are particularly reduced for small and medium-sized enterprises, and instances of interruptions in activities due to inspections decrease. Naturally, just as every inspection has its positive aspects, there are also negative aspects for an entrepreneur's activity. However, the application of such a concession by law paves the way for protecting the activities of conscientious entrepreneurs from inspections.
With the decree of President Ilham Aliyev, a decision was adopted to ensure the application of Law No. 1410-IVQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 20, 2015, "On the Suspension of Inspections in the Field of Entrepreneurship," and to improve the state regulation of inspections conducted in the field of entrepreneurship. The decision reflects the areas where the suspension of inspections does not apply, or the rules for conducting inspections if a necessity arises. For example, the suspension of inspections does not apply to inspections related to the quality and safety rules of medicinal products by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in relation to inspections concerning the implementation of food safety control by the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
A. Badamov also emphasized that planned and routine inspections in the field of entrepreneurship are suspended for a specified period:
“However, in cases posing a threat to human life and health, important for state security and economic interests, and when instances of money laundering and financing of terrorism are identified, inspections are carried out immediately, and the relevant law does not apply to such cases. Similarly, state customs, tax, and other audit and control inspections determined by law also continue to be carried out.”
The deputy also clarified the issue of evaluating the impacts and expectations of the aforementioned decision on the country's economy:
“The expectations for this decision are largely positive. This is because the suspension of inspections improves the small and medium-sized business environment in the country, stimulates entrepreneurs to make investments, and increases economic activity in the country. In other words, extending the duration of such a decision is another form of state support for the development of entrepreneurship in the country. However, entrepreneurs should also not abuse the suspension of inspections and must structure their activities by complying with legal requirements. The suspension of inspections should increase entrepreneurs' sense of responsibility and minimize risks. Increased economic activity and low observation of risks also serve as a call for extending the period of inspection suspension.”
In conclusion, A. Badamov noted that the purpose of extending the suspension of inspections in the field of entrepreneurship until January 1, 2027, is to promote a free entrepreneurial environment and stimulate the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
“The suspension of inspections reduces the administrative and financial burden on entrepreneurs. This contributes to saving entrepreneurs' time and finances, as well as maintaining the harmony of business activities related to inspection procedures. The period during which inspections were suspended also showed that this by no means reduces the responsibility of entrepreneurs,” the deputy stated.
It should be recalled that with the aim of stimulating the development of entrepreneurship in the country, inspections were suspended starting from November 1, 2015. This period ended on January 1, 2026.
