Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
216. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to initiate a Public Health (Obesity) Bill to include restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51487/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy instrument for addressing obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016, under the umbrella of the Healthy Ireland Framework, our national policy for health and wellbeing in Ireland.
The OPAP covers a 10-year period, up to 2025, and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Implementation of the OPAP is overseen by a cross-sectoral and cross-Departmental group, the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG), chaired by the Department of Health. Deliverables under the OPAP are also reflected in a number of key policy documents, including the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan (HI SAP).
The OPAP recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted issue and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. This is also emphasised by the 2022 WHO European Regional Report. The OPAP also includes most of the recommended policy actions in the WHO 2022 report.
Many initiatives and policies which address different aspects of the complexity of obesity have been developed and progressed over the last number of years. An internal review and an external evaluation of the OPAP was published at the end of 2022 which highlighted the progress that had been made to deliver on the OPAP and also highlighted key actions remaining to be fully implemented.
The Programme for Government, 2022 includes a commitment to introduce a Public Health Obesity Bill, including examining restrictions on promotion and advertising aimed at children. In relation to the issues around advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods aimed at children, work has been progressing at both EU and national levels to examine restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children through other channels and the need to introduce a Public Health Obesity Bill needs to be considered in this context.
At an EU level, the EU Joint Action “Best ReMaP” (Best practices in Reformulation, Marketing and public Procurement), has just completed its work and a suite of resources has now been published under the Work Package on Restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and adolescents. Ireland worked with 15 other Member States on this suite of resources which includes an EU coordinated approach using the WHO nutrient profile model for the identification of foods not permitted for marketing to children, guidance for Codes of Practice to reduce unhealthy food marketing and a report on a pilot EU-wide harmonised and comprehensive monitoring protocol for unhealthy food marketing. Intersectoral Working Groups have been established to facilitate the implementation of the food marketing tools developed by the Joint Action Best-ReMaP and the integration of policies into national legislation after the end of the Joint Action.
With regard to current rules in Ireland regarding advertising, sponsorship, product placement and other forms of commercial promotion aimed at children or broadcast in or around children’s programming, these are contained in the Childrens’ Commercial Communications Code (CCCC). This is a statutory broadcasting code issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
The establishment of “an Coimisiún na Meán” under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2023 provides for the creation of codes and rules which “may prohibit or restrict… the inclusion in programmes of commercial communications relating to foods or beverages considered by the Commission to be the subject of public concern in respect of the general public health interests of children… those foods or beverages which contain fat, trans-fatty acids, salts or sugars.”
As the Department responsible for public health policy, the Department of Health will contribute to, and be consulted on, the making of any codes by Coimisiún na Meán relating to the advertisement of food or beverages at children. The Department of Health is engaging with the Commission with a view to identifying how we will progress the development of such codes. We anticipate that this complex policy issue will require a high level of consultation across Government, with experts and other key stakeholders as and when appropriate.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act provides for the making of online safety codes which may restrict the marketing of certain foods and beverages to children, thus providing the means to deliver on this particular policy objective within the PfG. The necessity to bring forward a Public Health Obesity Bill will continue to be assessed as objectives are met by other means.
