In Uzbekistan, procedures related to the placement of outdoor advertising and signs are being revised in the interest of entrepreneurs. This was announced by the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee.
It is reported that the committee has submitted a draft regulation "On the regulation of outdoor inscriptions" for public discussion, which regulates relations regarding outdoor information media and signs.
The new document aims to clarify a number of issues that have caused various disputes and misunderstandings in practice. Particular attention is paid to eliminating gaps and ambiguous concepts in legislation.
In particular, formal and precise definitions are being provided for terms such as "outdoor information medium," "outdoor inscription," "information indicator," "sign," "announcement," and "information board."
The draft notes that outdoor information media are forms of information aimed at the external environment but not intended for advertising or commercial purposes. Therefore, placing images or information of an advertising nature on such media is not permitted.
At the same time, one of the most important innovations for entrepreneurs concerns signs. According to the new procedure, inscriptions indicating the type of activity placed at trade and service facilities will not be evaluated as advertising.
For example, inscriptions such as "pharmacy," "barbershop," "supermarket," "national cuisine," "hospital," "building materials," or "gas station" will be accepted as simple information signs.
This could be a major relief for entrepreneurs, as such signs will not require obtaining an advertising passport, additional permits, or making excessive payments.
In other words, if an entrepreneur places information about their name, specialization, or product on the exterior of the building where they operate, it will not be considered advertising.
Experts believe these changes are particularly important for small businesses and private entrepreneurs, as there have recently been cases of mass removal of signs in some regions, causing dissatisfaction among business owners.
In particular, in Tashkent, the classification of signs as advertising and the requirement for passports for them caused many disputes. This issue was also raised at a meeting attended by the President on May 5, where instructions were given to abolish existing excessive procedures.
The Competition Committee stated that the discussion of the document began on April 25 and will continue until May 10. In this regard, entrepreneurs and members of the public are invited to express their proposals and opinions on the project.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
