Mykola Tomenko: the crisis does not relieve from the responsibility for violation of the law.
Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, author of the amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising", stressed that new rules concerning advertising of alcoholic drinks and tobacco goods would come into force on 1 January 2009.
Thus, since the New Year it is prohibited:
- to advertise alcoholic drinks, tobacco goods and corresponding trade marks by means of outdoor advertising;
- to provide audio information about the sponsor-manufacturer of alcoholic drinks, its name or trademark in the television programs.
Mykola Tomenko confirmed the fact that certain disputes concerning alleviation of legislative regulations took place at the Parliament. However, The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not pass any resolution concerning cancellation or postponement of terms of the Law in question.
"Therefore, as one of the initiators of the Law and Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, I emphasize that no references to economic hardships provide the grounds for revision or postponement of new legislative standards. Non-observance of new rules of advertising alcoholic drinks and tobacco goods presupposes responsibility envisaged by effective legislation", - stated Mykola Tomenko.
The Vice-Chairman also forwarded an official letter to the leaders of the National Council of Ukraine for Television and Radio Broadcasting and to the State Committee of Ukraine for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy with a request to monitor observance of the said Law by the television channels, organizations dealing with outdoor advertising and advertising agencies since 1 January 2009.