Ad Standards Canada debuts code for kids' food ads
By Adnews Staff
A group of Canadian advertisers, food and beverage manufacturers and restaurants have announced a commitment to a new code and guide governing the advertising of food and beverage products to children. Participarint companies include the members of the Association of Canadian Advertisers, the Canadian Beverage Association, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada and Restaurants Canada.
The Code for the Responsible Advertising of Food and Beverage Products to Children will be administered by Advertising Standards Canada, which will implement preclearance services as well as a compliance and complaint reporting mechanism. The code will govern all food and beverage advertising nationally in any media. According to the group, it meets or exceeds the latest Health Canada recommendations published in December 2018.
“Industry has worked for the last two years in collaboration with the federal government and a diverse community of stakeholders to achieve the shared objective of a comprehensive and workable regime to govern advertising in Canada that protects children,” said Ron Lund, president and CEO of the Association of Canadian Advertisers. “Building on the great foundational work of Health Canada, I am pleased to announce on behalf of four leading industry associations a commitment to comply to this new code to assist them in delivering on one of their key priorities.”