AANA says ‘blanket ban’ on junk food advertising won’t solve the problem, will lead to job cuts
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) says calls to ban junk food ads on TV, radio and online channels won’t solve the child obesity problem and would just lead to job losses.
The group responded to a bill filed by independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps, which aims to remove junk food ads on TV and radio between 6am and 9.30pm and ban junk food marketing on social media and other online environments altogether if it passes parliament.
AANA chief executive Josh Faulks
AANA said reducing childhood obesity should be addressed with a holistic approach involving education, parental guidance, promotion of healthy eating habits, and encouragement of physical activity.
“The advertising industry recognises community concerns around childhood obesity and the role advertising plays,” AANA chief executive Josh Faulks said.
“That is why we have established some of the strongest rules in the world around food and beverage advertising to children and are proud of nearly 100 % compliance rate with decisions made by the independent complaints handling body, Ad Standards.
“With strong rules already in place, blanket advertising bans are unnecessary and will cause job losses across multiple sectors as we face significant economic headwinds.”
The group argues Australia already has some of the most rigorous rules concerning food and beverage advertising globally, with the Food & Beverages Advertising Code already prohibiting the targeting of children younger than 15 years old with junk food ads.
The code also imposes specific restrictions on the placement of junk food and beverage ads, with bans during children’s content, C or P rated programs, within a 50-metre radius of schools, or when the proportion of adults in the total audience is less than 75%.
The AANA said the food and beverage industry directly and indirectly employs hundreds of thousands of Australians across multiple sectors, and a ban on advertising across some parts of that industry would lead to reductions in sales and subsequent job losses across the supply chain.
Surely the AANA is more sophisticated than saying ‘boooo. regulation is bad.” AANA what are these stringent self-regulated rules you’ve imposed and what evidence do you have they are followed and are working.
I personally would love to see a ban on junk food advertising and I own a creative agency. I reckon kids junk food advertising would make up about 1% of the spend of the industry – Im hapy to forgo that 1%.
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Heaps more jobs on offer in the public health sector too if we can all fight this decision. We know who’ll be on the right side of history on this one. #jobcreation #1in4kids #rookienumbers
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I’m struggling to draw a connection between a ban on junk food advertising and job losses. Which jobs?
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These kinds of government interventions, by implication, assume that parents are either dumb or irresponsible.
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Shocker. Thanks for the pick up. Got lost in the rush to get out the CBA/Pat Crowley news.
Fixed!
Cheers,
Damian – Mumbrella
ANAA ?
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