Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
164. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to address the recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the online safety and media regulation Bill for a moratorium on advertising infant formula products online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55114/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for her question and commend her for overseeing the thorough pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill in her role as chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.
Regarding the recommendation of the Committee in their pre-legislative scrutiny report for a moratorium on the advertising of infant formula products online, this is something I am currently examining.
The recommendation raises a new policy proposal that was not considered during the development of the General Scheme of the Bill or in detailed drafting by the Office of the Attorney General. As such, the practical and legal implications of this proposal will need to be teased out before it can be addressed, whether through legislation or other avenues, particularly in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I note that standards in relation to infant formula products, including advertising standards, are primarily set down at an EU level. Implementation of these in Ireland is overseen by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Further to this, standards regarding advertising of infant formula products are reflected in the advertising codes of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). As a matter of practice, the BAI seeks to reflect medical and health advertising policy developed by the relevant Departments and public bodies in its advertising codes. This will also be the case with the advertising related media codes and online safety codes to be developed by the Media Commission, which is to be established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
