UK government considers restricting TV ads for kids

Concerns about childhood obesity have lead the UK Department of Health and Department of Culture, Media and Sport to ask Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, to examine the possibility of placing restrictions on television advertising of food and drink products to children. The Food Standard Agency has also formulated a nutrient profiling model, which could potentially be used to differentiate between types of products so that restrictions on advertising to children could be appropriately targeted.
Ofcom’s recommendations are based on consultation with consumer organisations, broadcasters, the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice and advertisers. In the process of consultation, Ofcom said it has become clear that there is no current consensus on the most appropriate course of action beyond an agreement that some action is necessary. Ofcom chief executive Stephen Carter said: "Proposals to increase regulation in open and competitive markets should always be subject to rigorous scrutiny.
"With childhood obesity, the case for targeted action has been made; but which action - and how this should be implemented - is the focus for this final stage of consultation."