This week, CAP has published an update on the incoming media restrictions around Less Healthy Foods. In response, the Advertising Association has issued the below comment.
Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, said:
“The ability for companies to advertise is crucial for growth and competition as well enabling the product reformulation that is at the heart of the Government’s anti-obesity policy agenda.
This is why successive governments have agreed with industry that the brand exemption is important. We have advocated throughout the legislative process for the brand exemption to be written into law and we have been repeatedly told that this was not necessary. The result is the ASA has now been put in the difficult position of having to balance inadequate legislation with the Government’s public policy intention.
The Government must act swiftly to resolve this and provide industry with the certainty it needs to meet the deadline for implementing the new restrictions. We will continue to work with the regulator and Ministers to ensure the stated policy is implemented properly and in full.”
