The UK’s Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) will begin a public consultation on new rules for marketing junk food to children in early 2016 amid growing concerns over children’s diet, it has announced.

It will look at on rules surrounding for non-broadcast advertising, such as online advergames, billboards, adverts in the press and direct marketing.

CAP said: “Through public consultation and against a background of concern about children’s diets, we will ask a broad range of stakeholders whether a change of approach is now needed: an approach that would introduce for the first time in the non-broadcast code, rules dedicated to the targeting of advertising, to children, of food and soft drinks high in fat, salt or sugar.”

It is currently consulting with consumer and campaign groups, public health experts and industry representatives before opening the consultation to the public.

Current rules on marketing to children stipulate that food and soft drink adverts must not endorse unhealthy eating or lifestyle habits to children, and cannot use promotions, celebrities or licensed characters, or encourage pester power.

http://www.foodnavigator.com/Policy/CAP-announces-consultation-on-junk-food-advertising-rules/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=30-Sep-2015&c=xp6tNRWPQnaJ0D9E9bNx3p8fuvkROyn7&p2=