Izmail City Council's Advertising Rules May Violate Competition Laws

Antimonopoly authorities have found that the decision of the executive committee of the Izmail City Council may violate the rules of fair competition in the field of outdoor advertising.

This was reported on the website of the Southern Interregional Territorial Department of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.

The office explained that it refers to decision No. 803 of September 26, 2013, which approved the procedure for outdoor advertising in the city of Izmail, Odesa region. Despite the fact that the document has been in force for more than 10 years, the antimonopoly authorities drew attention to a number of violations that could create unequal conditions for business.

In particular, Izmail requires more documents than stipulated by the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 2067 of 2003, which approved the standard rules for outdoor advertising. The city has also shortened the validity period for permits to install advertising structures.

The AMCU believes that such deviations from state standards may complicate the work of entrepreneurs who want to install billboards or citylights. As a result, some companies may find themselves in better conditions, and competition in the market will be disrupted.

Antimonopoly officials emphasized that such requirements from local authorities can actually close access to the market to new players, reduce the quality of advertising services and create conditions for monopolization.

In this regard, on April 24, 2025, the AMCU's administrative board sent official recommendations to the executive committee of the Izmail City Council. The city authorities have to stop actions that contain signs of violation of the legislation on protection of economic competition within two months. Failure to do so may result in the opening of a case and the imposition of sanctions.

Earlier, the AMCU initiated proceedings on the grounds of violation of economic competition protection laws by two Odesa-based companies.

Ірина Глухова