GRTU calls for immediate repeal of billboards legal notice

The GRTU has announced it is protesting against the Billboards and Advertisements Regulations, 2016, calling the move by which it was introduced “clandestine”.

“The Legal Notice, introduced on the 29th of March 2016 by three separate ministries, is unacceptable and entered without any form of consultation with GRTU as a social partner whose members will be directly and gravely hit by this hurried law,” the GRTU said in a statement.

The GRTU explained that the law may have had scope to perhaps organise the billboards that are scattered on the roads, but that the regulation has stretched to cover any form of advertisement. It explained that the word advertisement, defined as any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, device or representation, whether illuminated or not, including any boarding or similar used for the display of advertisements, including a billboard.

The GRTU added that regulations go on to state that no advertisement shall be displayed or illuminated in any place that is visible from the road without permission from the Authority.

“This in practice literally means that all advertisements that are visible from a road will be regarded in the same manner, irrelevant if these are done within one’s private property or on public land, and will require a Planning Authority permit at a fee and will also pay a yearly license of €1,500 every year to Transport Malta.”

GRTU went on to express its shock that the law goes includes shop signs and other advertisements that might be affixed to a façade.

“Another disturbing requirement is that any advertisement, including a shop sign, must bear the Authority’s reference number for its permission and this must be included as an integral part of the advertisement design in a permanent, clear and legible manner,” the statement reads, adding that this requirement negatively impacts the design of logos and signage, and it also goes against the branding rules of franchises.

GRTU added that it is aggravated by the fact that the Legal Notice has placed great strain on the sector that is now faced with a situation where it is not able to honour advertisement commitments made before the law was published.

“Operators were put under pressure to resubmit the paperwork of their permits with the planning authority by Monday 11th April after planning authority officials reportedly called the clients of billboards operators informing them that a fine of between €1,000 and €5,000 will be applied if the billboard is not regulated.

The GRTU further condemned the way the law came into force, “in total disrespect of the principles of transparency and consultation.”

“The law has hastily attempted to address an issue that has been in existence for a number of years in the most incorrect of manners,” the statement reads, adding that authority has also been sitting on the permit applications for over two years without giving any form of feedback.

“The law has not assessed the significant impact it will be having on enterprises across Malta and it has induced a money making mechanism for the benefit of the authority and Transport Malta that will throw enterprises in an even more precarious situation.