Oman makes it mandatory to procure licenses to publish advertisements on social media

Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion on Sunday issued a bylaw to regulate business activities involving marketing and promotion via electronic websites and social media groups.

The bylaw will be in force after 90 days from its publication in the Official Gazette.

The bylaw, which seeks to protect both merchants and consumers, requires the promoters of products and services via social media to obtain a license from the Commercial Affairs and Electronic Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

Though it mandated licence as a prerequisite for practicing product and service promotion, the bylaw excludes people engaged in non-profit activities, like charity or volunteering services, as well as a merchant’s promoting his/her own products or services. Requests for e-promotion licenses should be made by filling the prescribed forms available at the above-mentioned authorised department, provided the applicant meets the conditions.

The bylaw indicates that an applicant’s request may be finalised within 15 days from the date the authorised department receives the necessary documents. In case the licence application is approved, the authoriced department issues a 3-year licence, renewable, to enable the applicant to practise e-marketing and promotion activities.