Responding to the launch of the Committee of Advertising Practice consultation on food and soft drink advertising to children, Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of Children’s Food Campaign, said:
“The Children’s Food Campaign has long been calling for tougher restrictions on the marketing of less healthy food and drink to children, on TV, online and beyond. We are pleased that the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) finally seems to have accepted the need to take action, and to harmonise the rules across all forms of media, using the current restrictions on TV advertising as a starting point.”
“However, the CAP consultation is a let-down compared to the brave and bold action we saw earlier this year with the Government’s announcement of a sugary drinks levy. CAP have missed obvious opportunities to make the UK a world leader in putting the protection of children’s health above food and advertising industry profits. It is disappointing that CAP still feels the need to consult on key policy aspects – such as whether the rules should apply to under 13s or under 16s – where there is already near unanimous consensus on; whilst then refusing to consult on closing some of the loopholes in its existing rules or areas of marketing missing from its current remit.”
“There are too many gaps in the detail of the consultation and scope for the rules to be weakened and exemptions given to industry, for us yet to have confidence that the end result will be the necessary leap forward that CAP and industry claim, or that parents and public health advocates want to see.”
“Ultimately, if the advertising and food industries are happy with these proposals, then that is sure sign that they do not go far enough. And CAP’s begrudging acceptance of the need to take even limited action does not augur well for the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) determination to enforce these new rules. The ASA is already failing to get to grips with how manufacturers and agencies are flouting the spirit and often the letter of existing advertising rules.”
Media Contact:
For further information, and for interviews, please contact Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of Children's Food Campaign, on malcolm@sustainweb.org / 07733322148 / 0203 5596 777
Children's Food Campaign: Campaigning for policy changes so that all children can easily eat sustainable and healthy food.
