Draft regulations for a proposed federal ban on food ads aimed at children have again been put on the back burner, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
Advertisers have said the ban could cost them $1 billion a year.
“Industry is critical of the government advancing regulations,” said a June 19 briefing note by the Health Department after draft regulations were promised in the spring. None were introduced.
In a 2015 ministerial mandate letter, cabinet promised “new restrictions on the commercial marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children similar to those now in place in Quebec.”
In 2019, advertisers sent a petition to the Health Department, saying a ban would result in $956 million in lost TV and internet advertising.
“Those revenues, nearly $1 billion, would be lost by Canadian media operations,” wrote the Association of Canadian Advertisers. “Upstream from that would be additional damage to the entire advertising supply chain.”
Advertisers have said it would be an “enormous blow” that would affect most TV and internet advertising by food manufacturers and restaurant chains.
“Fully 52% of the industry’s ability to reach adults with television advertising and 74% of the industry’s ability to reach adults with digital advertising would go away if the proposal were to become law,” wrote the association.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
In October, the Commons passed Bill C-252, dubbed An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act, that would grant cabinet authority to restrict advertising of any food with “more than prescribed levels of sugar, saturated fats or sodium” to children under 13. Prescribed levels were not defined.
The bill is pending in the Senate social affairs committee.
The briefing note Restrictions on Food Advertising to Children set no deadline for regulations.
“Our government supports restrictions on food advertising to children to protect them from the risks of chronic diseases caused by an unhealthy diet. Almost one in three children and Canada, including two in three Indigenous children, lives with (being) overweight or obesity,” said the note.
“There is an increasingly urgent public health concern associated with excess weight because children who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of developing chronic conditions. Children are particularly vulnerable to advertising,” said the note. “Research in this area suggests children under eight years of age do not possess the cognitive abilities to understand the purpose of advertising.”
In October, the Commons passed Bill C-252, dubbed An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act, that would grant cabinet authority to restrict advertising of any food with “more than prescribed levels of sugar, saturated fats or sodium” to children under 13. Prescribed levels were not defined.
The bill is pending in the Senate social affairs committee.
The briefing note Restrictions on Food Advertising to Children set no deadline for regulations.
“Our government supports restrictions on food advertising to children to protect them from the risks of chronic diseases caused by an unhealthy diet. Almost one in three children and Canada, including two in three Indigenous children, lives with (being) overweight or obesity,” said the note.
“There is an increasingly urgent public health concern associated with excess weight because children who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of developing chronic conditions. Children are particularly vulnerable to advertising,” said the note. “Research in this area suggests children under eight years of age do not possess the cognitive abilities to understand the purpose of advertising.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.