 |
|
February 2007
26.02.2007: OFCOM UK advertising regulations far better than US self regulation.
There
are three industry-funded US organizations engaged in developing
technical guidelines. According to their homepage they are devoted to
the following goals:
-
Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) [1]: It emphasizes that it is
working for freedom to direct their messages to young children. CARU
developed the guidelines. Finally,
the Federal Trade Commission, which is in charge of advertising affairs
in US, has indicated it won't restrict food advertising on children's
television. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
says that the CARU's technical guidelines do not consider the
nutritional quality of foods. The CSPI has therefore threatened
litigation to protect kids from junk-foods ads. In 2006. Actions
against the marketing practices of Kellogs and Viacom (a kid-friendly
network) are running [4]. CSPI legal affairs director Bruce Silverglade
says that British regulations issued by OFCOM, are far superior than
the situation in the US, where the Federal Trade Commission continues
to support a failed self-regulatory system [5]. [1]CARU: Self-Regulatory Program for Children's Advertising http://www.caru.org/guidelines/index.asp [2] The National Advertising Review Council (NARC) : About The National Advertising Review Council http://www.narcpartners.org/about/index.asp [3] The Council of Better Business Bureaus http://www.cbbb.org/index.asp [4]
CSPI Newsroom, January 18, 2006: Parents and advocates will sue Viacom
and Kellogs. Lawsuit Aimed at Stopping Junk-Food Marketing to Children
by Kellogg and Viacom's Nickelodeon http://www.cspinet.org/new/200601181.html [5]CSPI
Newsroom: British Crackdown on Junk Food Ads Praised CSPI Says Food
Companies and Broadcasters Should Comply with Similar Guidelines Here. http://www.cspinet.org/new/200702232.html
- National Advertising Review Council (NARC) [2]. Its goal is minimize governmental involvement in the advertising business.
-
The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) [3]: Its function is to
oversee both organizations. It promotes the initiative that merely
requires food companies to pledge that 50 percent of their ads contain
a message encouraging healthy diets or physical activity.
OFCOM
issued extended restrictions on the television advertising of food
and drink products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) including
programmes and channels aimed at children aged under 16.
Rules in
Annex 4 of this Statement apply to all food and drink advertising to
children irrespective of when it is scheduled prohibiting the use of
licensed characters, celebrities, promotional offers and health claims
in advertisements for HFSS products targeted at pre-school or primary
school children. [3]
According to Which? a 9 pm schedule should be observed for these restrictions.
The Food and Drink Federation FDF argues that the regulations were based on scientifically flawed nutrient profiling model.
The
restrictions will come into effect in April 2007 regarding HFSS
advertisement for children aged four to nine. In January 2008 this
restriction will be extended to HFSS advertising to children under 16.
According
to Leech of Ofcom, the TV advertising has a modest, direct effect on
children's food choices and is only one among many influences. He
addresses the food and drink industry which, together with
government, have to add their part to solve the obesity issue. [2]
Responsible
for the implementation of the content rules and their compliance are
the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice (BCAP) and the
Advertising Standards Authority.
[1] OFCOM: Television Advertising of Food and Drink Products
to Children. Executive Summary.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/foodads\_new/statement/
[2] OFCOM publishes final Statement on the television advertising of food and drink products to children
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2007/02/nr\_20070222
[3] OFCOM : Television Advertising of Food and Drink Products to Children - Statement. Publication
date: 22.February 2007
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/foodads\_new/statement/statement.pdf
10.02.07:
The H5N1 virus of the farm is identical to the virus of recent
outbreaks in Hungary.
The company has poultry farms and production sites all over UK
Germany and Hungary and transports fresh meat from one side to
another. The veterinary investigators believe that the virus was on
this way imported from Hungary.
06-02-07:
UK loses its status as "disease free" country and Ireland, Russia, Hong
Kong, South Africa, South Korea and Japan and India impose ban on UK
poultry meat, live birds and hatching eggs.
The chief veterinary officer in charge, Fred Landeg, confirmed that about 159,000 turkeys have been culled,
03.02.07: New outbreak of H5N1 virus in UK
In UK a new outbreak of H5N1 virus avian flue was noted on the 27.01.06 and confirmed on the 03.02.06 in the English, province of Suffolk, Upper Holton in a farm for turkeys for meat production.
Three zones were declared around the Infected Premises to reduce the spread of disease. These are the Protection Zone (3km), the Surveillance Zone (10km) and a wider Restricted Zone, encompassing wider areas of Suffolk and Norfolk.