MEPA have to date honourably waived its fee for non-commercial health promotion-related billboards.

It has however come to my attention that MEPA is currently considering discontinuing this policy and, instead, might start charging the standard handsome fee just as it does for commercial billboards. Such a move would deal a great blow to all of us involved in health promotion.

Let us hope that MEPA will not be blinded by financial interests and opt to continue supporting such worthwhile initiatives. After all, the primary function of MEPA is to act as a regulator and not as a business enterprise.

In recognition of the waiver, MEPA should instead consider imprinting its logo as an official sponsor on non-commercial health-related billboards and limit the proportion of such billboards to say not more than 20 per cent of all billboards at any one time.

Lawrence Scerri

KAPPARA