ENVIRONMENT Commissioner Charalambos Theopemptou yesterday called for a law to regulate the distribution of advertising leaflets, which he said were an annoyance and a waste.
“There is no law that regulates the distribution of advertising materials in streets, cars or postboxes,” Theopemptou said.
He said that because the leaflets did nothing more than annoy people they ended up being thrown away.
“Great problems are caused by the uncontrolled distribution of leaflets. It creates large quantities of waste in public areas, as well as problems for many members of the public,” said Theopemptou.
In some cases, the content of material distributed is also controversial.
In the last week online casino establishments in Limassol have been placing free coupons on car windshields to lure gamblers in. But because there is no law, nothing can be done, even though gambling is illegal in Cyprus.
Following a meeting between Theopemptou and the Association of Advertising Leaflets Distributors in Nicosia it emerged that at currently there were three options for the handling of the issue.
The distribution of such material could be totally forbidden, as is the case in the US, in order to exert pressure on companies to exercise self-control by following a code that includes provisions on respecting people’s wish not to receive the leaflets, or a new law could be passed to regulate this activity.
Theopemptou insists that a law should be passed to regulate leaflet distribution in streets, cars and post boxes in order to protect the public and prevent the pile-up of waste. One possible measure he recommended was the creation of a special stamp that people could put on their cars, which would indicate that they do not wish to receive advertising material.
“There should also be provisions obliging advertisers to get a special licence from the local authority, a method of reporting misconduct, and getting advertisers’ to contribute to recycling leaflets and so on,” he said.