Insights IAB UK responds to Government consultation on draft HFSS secondary legislation

As IAB UK explains, in December 2022, the Government announced that the implementation of the online ad ban for certain products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) would be moved from 2023 to 2025. At the same time, it launched a consultation on secondary legislation relating to the specific details of the ban in four key areas: (i) product categories; (ii) SMEs; (iii) regulated radio; and (iv) online audio.

IAB UK has submitted a response to the consultation focusing on online audio and the proposed audio-only exemption, as these are the areas that are most relevant to IAB members.

In a nutshell, IAB UK says, its response supports an exemption from the ban for ads in relation to online audio content. IAB UK argues that this exemption should apply irrespective of the way audio content is accessed, including via an app or website that has visual or audio-visual elements. To read IAB UK’s press release in full and for a link to its response to the consultation, click here.