Consulting experts to complete the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Advertising

The Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Advertising was commented on by the National Assembly at the 8th Session in October 2024; it is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the 9th Session in May 2025.

As the agency in charge of the review, the Committee for Culture and Society has organized many working sessions with ministries, branches and 2 seminars with experts and the business community on the draft Law; fully absorbed the guidance of the National Assembly Standing Committee and National Assembly deputies; recorded many contributions from experts, scientists , managers as well as the business community.

Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Trieu The Hung chaired the discussion.

According to Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Trieu The Hung, compared to the draft Law first submitted to the National Assembly at the Eighth Session, this draft Law has made fundamental adjustments and innovations in thinking and legislative techniques, in line with the requirements of streamlining the state apparatus, meeting the requirements of building and perfecting laws in the new era.

Delegates attending the discussion assessed that, up to now, the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Advertising has achieved a high level of completion, harmonizing the requirements of state management, consumer protection with the legitimate business needs of advertisers, advertising service providers, and advertising publishers. The draft Law has many new points, closer to reality.

The seminar was attended by representatives of Associations, businesses, experts...

To continue perfecting the draft Law before submitting it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, at the discussion, delegates focused on discussing and clarifying a number of contents that still have different opinions, such as: regulations related to advertising of special products, goods and services; online advertising; outdoor advertising, advertising on specialized advertising screens; advertising in newspapers, etc.

According to Chairman of the Vietnam Advertising Association Nguyen Truong Son, the draft Law has demonstrated serious, careful, and selective listening and absorption of comments over the past time.

In particular, with online advertising, some opinions suggest that it is necessary to research and have reasonable, flexible, and transparent regulations to avoid increasing the cost of online advertising services, causing difficulties for small and medium enterprises.

Managing advertising activities through influencers (KOLs, KOCs) is considered one of the important new points of this amendment to the Advertising Law. There are opinions suggesting that the draft Law needs to differentiate specific responsibilities between entities related to advertising activities; accompanied by appropriate monitoring capabilities; have specific regulations for some sensitive areas with the potential for great impact such as finance...

US-ASEAN Business Council representative Nguyen Minh Duc said that reasonable, flexible and transparent regulations on online advertising will help Vietnam continue to maintain and even accelerate its growth rate.

To promote the creativity of the advertising profession and create more conditions for advertisers to expand their activities, attract customers and comply with international practices, it is proposed to add means of transport that can display advertising products on both sides and back of the vehicle; at the same time, research for advertising on other types of transport such as trains, ships, airplanes, flying objects, etc.

With the rapid development of digital technology and online consumer behavior, there are suggestions to clearly define digital advertising messages as well as digital advertising media. The draft Law also needs to add regulations on live broadcasts by influencers or advertising figures who must store live broadcast content for a large number of advertising recipients.

Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Media Development Nguyen Quang Dong suggested that intermediary platforms should be regulated in the direction of limited responsibility for "bad, toxic, and illegal" content in the process of advertising distribution business.

Regarding advertising in the press, the draft Law amends and supplements a number of regulations related to advertising in print and television to create conditions for press agencies to attract advertising resources, thereby improving the quality of content and programs. However, there are also opinions that, in the current context, it is not advisable to specify the duration and volume of advertising in the press, but to let the laws and market competition regulate it more appropriately...

Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh assessed that the draft Law has basically overcome the shortcomings in current advertising activities.

Thanking the delegates for their dedicated and responsible opinions, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Trieu The Hung affirmed that the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Advertising has many new points, especially the shift from pre-inspection to post-inspection and the mindset of banning if you can't manage it. The opinions at the discussion helped the Committee for Culture and Society have more information and multi-dimensional, comprehensive perspectives in the process of refining and perfecting the draft Law, ensuring strictness and suitability with reality.

“We expect that when the draft Law is passed by the National Assembly and put into practice, advertising businesses will have a clear, transparent, and equal legal corridor; people will receive correct, sufficient, and accurate advertising information; at the same time, it will open up a legal basis for socio-economic development,” Deputy Director Trieu The Hung emphasized.

News: Nhat Linh; Photos: Nghia Duc

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tham-van-chuyen-gia-hoan-thien-du-thao-luat-sua-doi-bo-sung-mot-so-dieu-cua-luat-quang-cao-post410319.html