Romania

[RO] New Decisions by Audiovisual Regulator

IRIS 2005-9:1/33

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

Decision no. 405 of 30 June 2005 of the Co nsiliul Naţional al Audiovizualului (the Romanian regulatory authority for electronic media - CNA) amended CNA Decision no. 248 of 1 July 2004 on personality rights (see IRIS 2004-10:15). Article 11 of Decision no. 248 now states that, for the benefit of TV viewers, footage filmed using a hidden camera must always be denoted by a graphic symbol depicting a camera.

CNA Decision no. 404 of 30 June 2005 also amended Decision no. 249 of 1 July 2004 on the protection of minors with respect to television programmes (see IRIS 2004-8:12).

The following warnings must now be used for TV films that may harm young people, depending on the level of danger: a white circle either containing large white letters AP (which stands for “ acordul părinţilor ”, or "parental consent") against a transparent background or the number “12” (for films that may only be broadcast after 8 pm). The number “16” denotes films that may only be shown between 10 pm and 6 am.

Audiovisual productions that are classified as particularly harmful to children and young people may only be shown between 11 pm and 6 am and must be marked with the number "18" inside a small white circle. Another innovation is that, in the last two film categories, the warning symbol should not merely appear at certain intervals, as it should in the first two categories, but should be visible in the bottom right hand corner throughout the broadcast.