Various long-standing infringements of the EC law on the free movement of goods and services within the EU remain unresolved while European industry protests at the Commission’s inaction continue to grow. The French Loi Evin – which bans almost all advertising of alcohol and the use of sponsorship messages by alcoholic beverage producers – is… Continue reading EU: Delays In Infringement Cases
The EC has proposed an International Charter to strengthen world-wide co-ordination for the elimination of barriers to the development of the information society. The Commission believes it is in the interests of industry, users and the general public to ensure greater consistency in global rules for doing business electronically and for using the global communications… Continue reading EU: EC Proposes Information Society Charter
President Bill Clinton has repeated his call – made last year – for TV broadcasters to give free broadcasting time for political messages. He has written to Bill Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a Clinton appointee, to say: “I call upon the commission to develop policies as soon as possible which ensure… Continue reading US: Clinton Calls For Free Air Time
In the light of the draft code of conduct for car advertising, as proposed under the UK Presidency of the EU, the German advertising trade body, the ZAW, has held a meeting with the president of the German Automobile Association, the VDA. The two agree that there is no call for such a European-wide code,… Continue reading DE: German Opposition To Car Code
On 28 January the EU Council adopted a common position for a Directive on guaranteeing the transparency of national rules on information society services. It is aimed at ensuring that new regulations in this area do not create barriers to free movement in the European single market. The position will now be forwarded to the… Continue reading EU: Council’s Common Position
Stefano Meloni, chairman of the Franco-Italian food production company Eridania Beghin-Say, has called on the EU rapidly to clarify its policies on the labelling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, in order not to alarm the public. “We believe that we cannot remain in the current grey zone, where each European country will take its… Continue reading EU: Food Company Speaks Out
The European Parliament has finally approved a Directive aimed at guaranteeing the protection of users of voice telephony and defining the universal service for the telecoms sector. The vote confirmed the agreement reached last month at the end of the conciliation procedure with the Council. This text – which now replaces Directive 95/62/EC on voice… Continue reading EU: Telephony Directive Adopted
The new Data Protection Bill – which is necessary to implement the European Data Protection Directive – has been laid before Parliament. It will replace the Data Protection Act of 1984 over the next three years. The Direct Marketing Association of the UK has already given the new Bill a cautious welcome. One of the… Continue reading UK: Data Protection Bill
It is rumoured that Emap Radio is currently in exclusive negotiations with Hanson, owner of Melody 105.4FM with a view to buying the London-based radio station.Today’s Financial Times reports that Hanson has effectively sidestepped bids from GWR, Scottish Radio Holdings and Golden Rose Communications (subscribers see Interest Builds In Melody) to discuss a deal exclusively… Continue reading Emap Believed To Be Interested In Melody
The authorities in South Africa have proposed to the Codex Committee on Food Labelling of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme a set of rules for the definition of ‘sports’ and ‘energy’ drinks. Such an initiative has often, in the past, led on to calls within the same organization, for advertising bans. The 26th Session… Continue reading EU: Sports Drinks Under Spotlight
