Durham Law Academic Co-Authors a Major Policy Report for the World Health Organisation.
(8 May 2012)
On 4 May 2012, the World Health Organisation released a report co-authored by Amandine Garde from Durham Law School on food marketing to children.
In May 2010, the World Health Assembly (WHA), through resolution WHA63.14, endorsed a set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children. The main purpose of the recommendations was to guide efforts by Member States in designing new policies, or strengthening existing policies, on food marketing communications to children in order to reduce the impact of marketing foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt. Resolution WHA63.14 requested that the Director-General provide technical support to Member States in the implementation, as well as the monitoring and evaluation, of the recommendations.
The Framework for Implementing the Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-alcoholic Beverages to Children has been developed in response to the mandate of resolution WHA63.14 and is aimed at policy makers wanting to apply the recommendations in their individual territories. The process involved is set out in four sections. Initially the concept of 'marketing to children' is defined; examples of marketing techniques are provided and an explanation given as to how marketing works and who is involved. A 'step-by-step' process for the policy development and policy implementation follows, with the final section of the framework addressing the need to establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system giving practical references on what to monitor and the approaches and methods that can be used.
Amandine Garde specialises on the role which regulation and litigation can play in improving public health and the wellbeing of children as a group of particularly vulnerable consumers. Her monograph EU Law and Obesity Prevention is the first to offer a critical analysis of the EU's Obesity Prevention Strategy.