Spanish ban on advertising on public TV (10/08/2009)
WFA research shows insight into global audience measurement (31/07/2009)
Contagious: "The rise of own brands" (31/07/2009)
Bing to power Yahoo! as part of global search deal (31/07/2009)
BRICs well-placed for economic recovery (28/07/2009)
Korea: "High-caloric, low-nutrition" foods to be banned from prime-time TV
Date: 27/05/2008
Korea has declared war against children's obesity with the first prong of its attack focused on banning television commercials for junk food from time slots favored by children.
A new law protecting children's health will ban food firms from promoting free toys and add-ins on television, radio and online advertisements.
The rule is just one of many related, forthcoming clampdowns by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), which claims it will eventually block virtually all TV commercials promoting "unhealthy" food and drinks during prime time, starting January 2010.
The KFDA said "high-caloric, low-nutrition"' food and drinks will be banned from airing between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It added that a further definition of restricted goods will be announced in January 2009. And prior to a full ban in 2010, it said hearings will be held to collect public opinions.
Source: The Korea Times 27/05/08
WFA Position:
WFA has contacted local industry representation in the region in order to clarify the following incorrect appraisal of the international context from the Korea Times' article:
"South Korea is belatedly moving to join the league of other advanced countries in protecting children's health,' said Lee Ji-young of the children's food safety division at KFDA, explaining that the U.K., the U.S., France and Australia are among countries that have already cracked down on junk food ads."
Despite the claim above, only the UK and Ireland have adopted statutory restrictions and the UK has even rejected a pre-watershed ban. No other country has adopted statutory restrictions. On the contrary, the EU and US are preferring to take a self-regulatory approach at the moment, fully supported by WFA. The US is currently monitoring the impact of the US pledge, while the EU pledge is formulating its monitoring commitments in light of the EU Pledge.
For more information please contact Will: [email protected]
