Romania: National Audiovisual Council adopted Decision on audio-visual content regulatory code including fair marketing and advertising practice requirement

On 25 June 2025, Romania's National Audiovisual Council adopted Decision No. 573 establishing an audio-visual content regulatory code. The regulation applies to all television and radio broadcasters, video-on-demand platforms, and video-sharing services under Romanian jurisdiction. The code establishes advertising restrictions across multiple categories and mandates that alcohol advertising is prohibited between 6 am and 10 pm and that all alcohol advertisements must end with the warning "Excessive alcohol consumption is seriously harmful to health." The code also provides that medicine advertising requiring prescriptions is banned entirely, and permitted medicine promotion must include an audible warning to read the leaflet carefully and include additional written warnings. It also provides that endorsements of medicines, medical treatments, homoeopathic products, medical devices, and food supplements are prohibited in programs for minors. The code mandates specific awareness messages covering autism screening, vaccination, and addiction prevention.