On 22 August, the WHO Regional Office for Europe released the proposed Second Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy 2007-2012 included for approval in the agenda of the next Regional Committee to be held in Belgrade, Serbia on 17-20 September 2007.

 

This Second Action Plan identifies obesity in children and adolescents as one the four main health challenges and explicitly aims at reversing the obesity trend within 2012. One of the suggested actions is to “contribute to the development of an international code of practice on marketing and advertising, especially to children.” In order to achieve this goal, nutrition targets are adopted in line with the FAO/WHO recommendations, and six specific Action Areas are identified:

 

- Supporting a healthy start (focus on pregnant women and newborns)

- Ensuring a safe, healthy and sustainable food supply

- Providing comprehensive information and education to consumers

- Taking integrated action to address related determinants

- Strengthening nutrition and food safety in the health sector

- Monitoring, evaluation and research

 

The Plan starts from the assumption that “the media, advertising and retail sectors and the food industry have an influence on dietary choices”. Several points in this Action Plan refer to the marketing practices of food and beverage, specifically when targeted at children. These include:

 

- Ensuring appropriate marketing practices … by adopting regulations or using other methods of proven effectiveness;

- Improving public and private research to enhance understanding of the impact of social marketing techniques, new communication channels and different labelling schemes on consumers’ dietary choices;

- Contributing to the development of an international code of practice on marketing and advertising, especially to children.”

 

Source: Advertising Education Forum

 

WFA is liaising with representatives from the global food industry (Grocery Manufacturers Association, GMA and the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries, CIAA), with a view to drawing up a strategy to respond to the Second Action Plan. For more information on our activity in this area please contact w.gilroy@wfanet.org