As a parent and someone who is a marketer, here is an important public consultation that I will be paying attention to.
This week the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) launched a public consultation on how food and drink should be commercially promoted to children in the broadcast media.
The public consultation is part of a review by the BAI on the diet and nutrition rules contained in its Children’s Commercial Communications Code.On their website the BAI comment:
Under the existing rules, commercial communications which are of particular interest to children or those broadcast during children’s programmes are required to be responsible in their messaging and portrayal of food and drink to those aged under 18. Commercial communications include advertising, sponsorship and product placement.
Responses to the consultation will be accepted by email or by post to the BAI as follows: Children’s Code Consultation, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, 2 – 5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2 or email: sowens@bai.ie. The deadline for submitting responses is 5pm on Thursday, 6th October 2011. As part of promoting the consultation, the BAI is undertaking a direct mail-shot to potentially interested stakeholders; a media campaign, including use of social media to promote aspects of the consultation (please note: comments on social media will not be considered as a formal response to the consultation, and those wishing to engage with the consultation are advised to submit their response in writing by post/email).
You can find the consultation referenced on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Facebook Page here.
You can find the consultation referenced on the safefood Facebook Page here.
You can find the consultation referenced on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireand Facebook page here. You can also find the BAI on Twitter here.
As the Irish Examiner reports cheese, breakfast cereals and butter could be hit with advertising restrictions due to fears over their effects on children’s health.
This is an important review and if you are a food manufacturer, a marketer involved in the food industry, or a parent I recommend that you take the time to review the 91 page report which you can access here (or download the PDF here) and make sure you have your voice heard in this public consultation.
Remember the deadline for responses is 6 October 2011.
