EUROPEAN פּאַרליאַמענט מיסאַז אויס אויף אַמאָל אין אַ יאָרצענדלינג געלעגנהייט צו פֿאַרבעסערן קינדער 'ס געזונט

Europe faces a childhood obesity epidemic; up to a third of 11-year olds are overweight or obese. Youth binge drinking is widespread and causes major harm, while nearly half have tried alcohol before the age of 13. Research has shown that bad habits picked up in childhood often last a lifetime.

For health organisations the on-going revision of the AVMSD (EU Audio-visual Media Services Directive), offered a once in a decade opportunity to protect children from commercial communications on alcoholic beverages, and products high in fat, sugar and salt.

The European Parliament’s CULT Committee (Culture and Education), which is leading scrutiny of the EC’s proposal, published its draft report in September 2016 and after several postponements the final vote on the report, finally took place on 25 April. Health organisations say that the report was delayed by extensive lobbying by industry.

The Parliament is continuing to support self and co-regulation, health organisations argue that there is a growing body of research that shows the ineffectiveness of such an approach in protecting children and young people from the marketing of food and drinks. Health organisations such as the British Medical Association say that the Parliament’s support for voluntary self and co-regulation for advertising of alcohol and food high in fat, sugar and salt and the wording is not strict enough to protect children and minors. They say that there is far too much scope for interpretation and using loopholes for advertising their products.

One of the MEPs leading the debate, rapporteur Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany) said: "One of our main priorities is the protection of minors. We proposed adapting some of the rules applying to programmes on television to internet services, such as rules on advertising, product placement and sponsorship. Certain advertising in programmes aimed at a children's audience will be restricted, allowed only to a very limited extent or will be prohibited in general."

We spoke to Daciana Octavia Sarbu (S&D, Romania) earlier in the year who said that leaving the decisions to member states and companies was wrong and she would have supported a ban.

אַדווערטייזמאַנט

Brussels-based public health organisations, including the British Medical Association have been at the forefront of these discussions. On 1 December 2016, the BMA jointly hosted – with other civil society organisations – an event in the Parliament to minimise the exposure of minors to advertising alcohol and food high in sugar, fats, trans fats, salt and sodium; exclude alcohol and unhealthy food from product placement and sponsorship; ensure member states can limit broadcasts from other countries on public health grounds. In addition, the BMA has also co-signed a letter to S&D group and to CULT MEPs with the messages repeated ad nauseam.

 

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