Government Could Impose Junk Food Ad Ban

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he could impose a ban on junk food advertising if a voluntary code does not work.

Blair was speaking to the BBC ahead of a speech on the NHS and told reporters that the government would intervene if it felt that the food industry could not regulate its own advertising.

He said that the the success of government campaigns such as the anti-smoking drive had led him to believe that the government could play a more interventionist role in improving the nation’s health.

In response to the PM’s comments, Jeremy Preston, outgoing director of the Advertising Association’s food advertising unit, said: “Our proposals will provide a tough but proportionate response, the current co-regulatory system has responded quickly and effectively to the government’s challenge to change the balance and nature of food and soft drink advertising to children.”

Ofcom is currently in consultation on four options regarding the regulation of junk food advertising, one of which could see the majority of food advertising cut between 4pm and 6pm (see Food And Drink Ads For Kids Could Be Banned On Main Networks).

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk