How is junk food advertising currently regulated?
A number of overseas governments have already recognised, and acted to curb, the influence of junk food advertising. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and Quebec all have restrictions on television advertising to children. These range from a ban on all junk food advertising to excluding such ads during peak viewing times for children. In Australia, television advertising is regulated by the Federal Government under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth). This Act requires the Australian Communications and Media Authority to determine standards for programs for children. It also permits advertisers to formulate and regulate their own guidelines for ads. Unfortunately, since self regulation was reviewed in 2004, the proportion of junk food and drink ads appearing in peak viewing times for children has increased. It is up to parents to make complaints about what they think is inappropriate for children to watch. What more can we do? Parents have said
