State Committee of Uzbekistan on Demonopolization and Competition Development organized the event in cooperation with the Committee on information and communication technologies of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

The seminar discussed issues on implementation of newly adopted changes and amendments to legislation on advertisement activity – Law of Uzbekistan “On introduction of changes and amendments to the Law of Uzbekistan “On advertisement” and article 178 of the Code of Uzbekistan on Administrative Responsibility”.

MPs of Legislative Chamber, representatives of Cabinet of Ministers, Prosecutor Generals’ Office, State Demonopolization Committee, state bodies and private companies, mass media, civil society institute and others participated at the event.

Participants noted that the law of Uzbekistan “On advertisement”, adopted in 1998, serves as legislative base for gradual development of the industry. Currently, over 1,043 entities work in advertisement market, including 250 advertisement agencies, offering full spectrum of advertisement services.

Participants underlined that there some problems in advertisement market along with positive moments. Last year, State Demonopolization Committee revealed 333 violations of the Law of Uzbekistan “On advertisement”, of which 118 fell to share of violations of the norms of tobacco and alcohol products’ advertisement. The committee used sanctions in line with the article 29 of the law “On advertisement” for total sum of 11.1 million soums. In eight months of 2010, this sum reached 43.9 million soums. The committee also used sanctions against 87 persons for 10.6 million in line with article 178 of the Administrative Responsibility Code in 2009 and against 117 persons for 19.9 million in eight months of 2010.

Seminar attendees also considered new changes and amendments to the advertisement legislation in line with the law “On introduction of changes and amendments to the Law of Uzbekistan “On advertisement” and article 178 of the Code of Uzbekistan on Administrative Responsibility”, which came into force on 18 September 2010.

It was noted that the new amendments are directed at ensuring rights of consumers, realizing rights on receiving exact and trustful advertisement information, creating healthful competition in the market, banning advertisement and alcohol products of any strength.

Participants underlined that these legislative acts have social importance and fully corresponds to national traditions, moral standards, and improves mechanism on preventing unfair advertisement and helps to fight alcoholism, smoking and others. In particular, it was underlined that the law banks use of foreign works and expressions, which distort meaning of information or misleading consumers, as well as indications that the product approved or recommended by the state bodies.

The law also sets ban for advertisement of stimulating events without showing terms and rules of them, information about organizers, number of prizes, terms, place and order of prize receiving, as wall use of trademark or brand, which are similar to those advertisement of which are forbidden.

The seminar said that article 23 of the Law “On advertisement” bans advertisement of tobacco and tobacco products, as well as alcohol products of any strength, as well as free spread of tobacco and tobacco products, alcohol drinks, sponsoring events, as well as use of name, trademark or images of tobacco or alcohol products. The article also forbids sale and spread of products (T-shirts, caps, games and others) with name and trademark of tobacco and alcohol products and use of images and trademarks of tobacco and alcohol products at fronts, entrance, storefronts and other trade objects.

The seminar participants underlined importance of promotion of legislation norms among population, in particular among youth.