Our response to UK Government Online Advertising Programme consultation - June 2022

The UK Government are holding a consultation on proposals for their Online Advertising Programme (OAP).

The Online Advertising Programme will review the regulatory framework of paid-for online advertising to tackle the evident lack of transparency and accountability across the whole supply chain. It will also work with measures being introduced through the Online Safety Bill. 

In our response, we outline our concerns regarding online advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods (HFSS), in particular the harms caused to children, and discuss issues with current regulations for online advertising of these foods.  

We are extremely disappointed by the announcement on 14^th May from the UK Government that the implementation of the ban on online advertising of HFSS foods, introduced in the Health and Care Act (and the 9pm watershed for TV), as well as the ban on multi-buy and other price promotions of HFSS foods, are being delayed by at least a year to January 2024. Given this delay in implementation of these crucial policies, it is now more important than ever that the provisions for online HFSS food advertising within the OAP are strengthened and robust, to ensure they properly protect children and other vulnerable groups from exposure to HFSS food advertising online. 

The consultation deadline has been extended and closes on 8th June 2022.