Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
70 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has made any representations to the European Commission to encourage the inclusion of measures to restrict the advertising to children of foods high in sugars, fat or salt within the new draft of the television without frontiers directive, which will apply to all broadcasters in the European Union. [13684/04]
View answerThe review by the EU Commission of the television without frontiers directive is at a very early stage and proposals for a new directive, if any, are not expected until 2005 at the earliest.
While the television without frontiers directive makes no explicit reference to the advertising of food high in sugar, fat or salt, the directive does allow individual member states to impose more restricted advertising standards on broadcasters within its own jurisdiction. In that context, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, under section 19 of the Broadcasting Act 2001, is currently preparing a code on children's advertising. The draft code, which was recently published following a wide and comprehensive consultation process, includes provisions relating to diet and nutrition. The BCI, which was given statutory responsibility for setting advertising standards in Ireland, is seeking the views of interested parties on the draft code before 17 May 2004.
Under the provision of the directive, however, such a code will only be applicable to broadcasters established within the Irish jurisdiction. Clearly this is not satisfactory and, accordingly, I have been making representations to the EU Commission to ensure that broadcasting services, which are regulated in one member state but intended for reception primarily in another member state, should be subject to the broadcasting standards of the member state in which they are received. In this way, Irish advertising standards would have wider application and greater impact.
In regard to children's advertising generally, there is a growing awareness at European level of the importance of providing greater protection for children. While the debate is at a very early stage, Ireland has indicated, through the preparation of a specific advertising code for children, that these issues should be addressed by all member states.
