Recent Changes In Advertising Regulation In Kazakhstan

On April 11, 2019 amendments to the regulation on advertising will be adopted in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 215-VI dated January 8, 2019 "On Introducing Changes and Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Advertising Issues" (the Law).

In particular, the Law establishes the following novelties in terms of advertising regulation: changing the approach to determine outdoor (visual) advertising; setting fees for the placement of outdoor (visual) advertising, requiring that local executive bodies be informed about the placement of such advertising; prohibiting the indication of prices (tariffs, fees, rates) for goods and services other than in local currency - Tenge, etc. Below is a brief description of the most significant changes to the regulation on advertising:

The concept of "outdoor (visual) advertising" has been changed significantly. Advertising is now referenced as outdoor (visual) in accordance with the following features: Advertising that is placed on structures, various kinds of three-dimensional or two-dimensional flat frame structures on screens and electronic scoreboards, light structures and other features used for the distribution and (or) placement of advertising; and Advertising that is available for visual perception in open spaces outside premises in suburban areas, in areas of public use, in open spaces outside areas of suburban premises and outside areas of public use. There is an exhaustive list of information that does not apply to outdoor (visual) advertising as defined (for instance, signs, information about working hours, posters, interior decoration of the shop-windows and on windows, etc.). As soon as the amendments enter into force, outdoor (visual) advertising will include, for example, information about promotions and discounts and images of goods placed on the shop-windows. Furthermore, outdoor (visual) advertising will include advertising placed, in particular, on tents, pavilions, awnings, sheds, umbrellas, flags, banners, pennants, impermanent kiosks, dynamic panels, flower vases, gazebos, benches, garbage disposal units, public transport stops, equipment and structures for children's games and adult recreation. The volumetric neon letters, portable mobile advertising, video images and even marathon numbers will be classified as outdoor (visual) advertising. A notification procedure has been established for placing outdoor (visual) advertising...