Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2025
Letter from Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair, Culture. Media and Sport Committee, to Guy Parker, Chief Executive, ASA, regarding less healthy food advertising, dated 15 May 2025
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Summary
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, writes to the Advertising Standards Authority's Chief Executive requesting urgent clarity on implementation guidance for new rules restricting advertising of less healthy food and drink products, which take effect 1 October 2025. The letter seeks answers on finalisation timelines, coverage of brand advertising, and whether legislative change could improve clarity.
Key findings
- New regulations prohibit adverts for less healthy products on TV before 9:00pm watershed and online at any time, effective 1 October 2025
- Broadcasters have raised concerns about uncertainty regarding which adverts are covered, particularly whether brand advertising (ads not explicitly featuring specific products but identifiable as such) falls within scope
- ASA consultation on draft implementation guidance closed 18 March 2025; Committee seeks confirmation of finalisation timeline before the October deadline
- Committee questions whether existing regulatory framework can adequately clarify brand advertising coverage or if further legislation is necessary
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Guy Parker, Advertising Standards Authority, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Commercial public service broadcasters
Notable line
“Commercial public service broadcasters have made it clear to us the need for clarity at a reasonable time before 1 October”
Key Quotes
“These rules, which aim to reduce children's exposure to less healthy food or drink adverts, prohibit adverts for certain less healthy products from being advertised on TV before a 9:00pm watershed and at any time online.”
“Commercial public service broadcasters have made it clear to us the need for clarity at a reasonable time before 1 October”
“Could clarity on the regulations with regard to brand advertising be improved by further legislation?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗