ABU DHABI, 17 June 2007 — The UAE Ministry of Health has called on all local media, including print publications, radio and television broadcasters and websites, to implement the UAE Cabinet’s Resolution No. 7/2007 which regulates publishing, airing and/or posting health ads and commercials.
“Media organizations of various types (operating in the UAE) are clearly defying Resolution No. 7/2007 and continue to publish and/or air health advertisements without getting prior permits from the Department of Health Advertisements at the Ministry of Health,” said Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Zarouni, head of the Department of Health Advertisements.
“Cooperation with the Department of Information and Publishing at the National Media Council (NMC) is necessary in order to instruct all the publishing houses and printing presses and media including newspapers, magazines, periodicals, news bulletins and terrestrial and space radio and TV services, including those operating in the free zones to strictly abide by the effective laws and abstain from publishing/airing any health ads before obtaining prior relevant permits from the Ministry of Health,” he said.
The head of NMC’s Department of Information and Publishing, Saeed Abdullah Al-Darmaki, said: “All the media in the country have been told again not to publish/air/post any health ads and commercials before checking and making sure all data in the applications for broadcasting/publishing/posting health ads have been verified by the Ministry of Health. NMC will be taking legal action (against violators) to safeguard the public interest.”
