Bulletin

February 2019 #106

Food Code changes

New provisions to the AANA Food and Beverages Advertising and Marketing Communications Code from 1 June 2019 will affect all advertisers marketing food and beverages to children or in children’s media.

To get ahead of these changes, training workshops will be held in Melbourne and Sydney in March and April. More information and online registration via the AFGC website.

Puffery in advertising

In February, the Ad Standards Community Panel looked at complaints regarding misleading statements about food and environmental claims in toddler milk and soft drink advertising. These were dismissed as the statements were considered as exaggerated claims not seen to be misleading.

All Ad Standards Community Panel determinations are published online at www.adstandards.com.au

Advertising or content?

Complaints about takeaway food commercials featuring famous tennis players receiving their order on court at the Australian Open were dismissed by the Community Panel.

The Panel determined the ads were clearly distinguishable as advertising as the players spoke directly to camera while holding the branded product.

Political and election advertising

A timely reminder with the upcoming NSW state and federal elections that complaints about political and election advertising are outside the charter of the Ad Standards Community Panel.

More information about political and election advertising is on the Ad Standards website.

Response to the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry

Ad Standards response to the preliminary findings of the current ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry is now available on our website. Regular submissions to government by Ad Standards on a wide range of issues relevant to the advertising self-regulation system are also published online and updated regularly.