The Sydney Principles: Guiding principles for achieving a substantial level of protection for children against the commercial promotion of foods and beverages

The International Obesity Taskforce has released a set of underlying principles on marketing food and drinks to children - The Sydney Principles.

They declare that national and international actions to reduce commercial promotion to children should:

support the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

be legally enforceable. (Industry self-regulation is not enough)

include a wide range of media, such as TV, Internet, sponsorships

guarantee commercial-free childhood setting

include cross-border media

be able to be evaluated, monitored and enforced.

If they are applied, our children will be protected from much of their current exposure to junk food advertising.

The International Obesity Taskforce says “This would make a significant contribution to a multi-strategy approach to reduce childhood obesity across society.”

Read the guidelines: International Obesity Taskforce website, August 2007

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