The Parliament has approved changes to the Advertising Code aimed at restricting advertising of unhealthy food products for those under age 16 years (15 March 2019). The new Law establishes restrictions to advertising products with high calories, sugar, salt and fats in kindergartens, basic and secondary level schools; in public playgrounds; and in a perimeter of 100 meters of the places mentioned before.
Furthermore, these restrictions also apply to radio adds 30 minutes before or after programmes targeting children; TV adds 30 minutes before or after programmes which have at least 25% of audience under 16 years of age (including commercial breaks); commercials in movie theatres in movies classified for under 16 years of age; in advertising targeting people under age 16 years.
Advertising food or drinks with high calories, sugar, salt and fats should be, according to this Law, clear and straight, and should not associate the product with potential health benefits. Advertising these products should not encourage excessive consumption; create a permanent need (in the viewer) to consume that product; associate the product to social fulfilment, popularity success or intelligence; communicate the features of the product as beneficial for health, leaving out the deleterious effects for health.
The Directorate-General of Health will publish the criteria to classify the food products as high in calories, sugar, salt and fats before the Law comes into force on 23 June 2019.