News [10/31/2006 ] Obesity       WFA has drafted and co-signed an industry response to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) "Guiding Principles for Reducing the Commercial Promotion of Foods and Beverages to Children" (The ‘Sydney Principles’). The ‘Sydney Principles’, intended to help the World Health Organisation (WHO) form policy recommendations in the field of food marketing communications (particularly to children), aim to establish counteractive measures to reduce childhood obesity. The industry response unites WFA, the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA), the International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) and the International Council of Grocery Manufacturers Associations (ICGMA) in support of balanced, truthful and non-misleading food marketing communications that encourage healthy dietary and lifestyle practices and not undermine government dietary recommendations. The group supports the over-riding objective of the ‘Sydney principles’, but does not agree that government regulation should be pursued as a means or achieving the objective citing three main reasons: 1.    Existing self-regulatory approaches are working well and are continuing to evolve to respond to changing public concerns; 2.    Legal frameworks are already in place to protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices; 3.    Industry is responding to consumer needs. The full response can be found below. For more information please contact w.gilroy@wfanet.org Documents: 3110SydneyPrinciples.pdf  (.pdf file, size 77.543 kb)