A Bill to stop all marketing of junk food to children had its second reading in the British Parliament on 25 April.
The Food Product (Marketing to Children) Bill aims to introduce a ban on junk food advertising on TV before 9:00 pm. It also intends to protect children from other methods of marketing unhealthy food.
The Bill was blocked by opposition MPs and ran out of time before being put to the vote. It now stands little chance of progressing.
According to the the Hansard record the debate will be resumed on Friday 6 June.
According to the House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin for 14 June, the Bill has been dropped.
MPs block junk food advert ban
“A bill calling for a ban on advertising junk food and drinks to children has been blocked by opposition MPs,” reports the BBC.
Read more: BBC, 25 April 2008
Bid to restrict junk food ads blocked
“A bid to tackle growing obesity by tougher controls on advertising junk food to children has been blocked by Tory backbench critics in the Commons.”
Read more: Which, 26 April 2008
MP pushes for junk food advertising law
Read more: ePolitix, 25 April 2008
Griffiths ‘furious’ as Tory MP kills Bill to ban junk-food ads
Read more: Scotsman, 26 April 2008
Food Product (Marketing to Children) Bill
Read more: Which, 18 April 2008
The battle to switch off television’s junk food lure
Although Britain has a ban on junk food advertising to children on TV, it isn’t enough. It doesn’t apply to programmes that are popular with both children and adults. The proposed Bill hopes to stop the advertising of unhealthy products before 9:00 pm.
This article explains why the Bill is needed.
Read more: Scotsman.com, 21 April 2008
Read the Bill on the UK Parliament website.
