The law to amend the Broadcasting Code was published in the January 12 issue of the Official Gazette. The broadcasters and distributors of services that are within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova are obliged to adjust their audiovisual program services and offers of services of programs retransmitted in accordance with the new broadcasting norms within 30 days of the publication of the law in the Official Gazette, IPN reports.
The Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) warns the broadcasters and distributors of services to adjust their services and offers so as to ensure the protection of consumers of information from possible misinformation or manipulating informing attempts from abroad and not to allow media provocations aimed against the Republic of Moldova.
The law allows for the retransmission only of news, feature, military and political radio and television programs produced in the EU member states, the U.S., Canada and in the states that ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.
The law stipulates penalties in the form of fines of 40,000 to 70,000 lei for broadcasters and distributors of services that will violate the given provisions. The fine for repeated violations will be 70,000 to 100,000 lei. The withdrawal of the broadcast license is the ultimate punishment.
The BCC reiterates its conviction that the new changes made to the Broadcasting Code will significantly contribute to preventing foreign propaganda on Moldova’s territory and also to increasing the number of national programs, which will lead to the development of the national broadcasting sector.
The decree to promulgate the law to amend and supplement the Broadcasting Code was signed by Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu after the Constitutional Court ascertained the circumstances that justify the suspension of the President from office so that the given law could be promulgated by another empowered official.
