Publicity and marketing PAOS Code
Listado de Contenidos:
This section details the agreements and accords that the Ministry of Health
and Consumer Affairs and the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN)
signed with various organisations and institutions from the business sector,and
the commitments undertaken to contribute to the promotion of healthy habits and
the prevention of obesity among the population. Overweight and obesity are issues that should not be limited solely to
either the national health system or the healthcare sector.Action at a
community level must play a leading role and should bring about an overall
mobilization of society.It would be naive,however,to underestimate the
considerable contribution that the health system,especially the primary
healthcare system and its staff,can make to an anti-obesity strategy.Obesity
prevention,detection and treatment,including the promotion of healthy eating
habits and physical exercise,should be included in the routine activities
carried out by the health care system. Our health system is an extraordinarily powerful mechanism,with a staff of
well-trained doctors at all levels who must bear a large part of the
responsibility in the fight against obesity.In general,people place a great
deal of trust in doctors and nurses and consider them to be figures of
authority.This makes them the first line of responsibility in implementing
preventative and recuperative measures,and especially in promoting healthy
habits.
PAOS Code
The launch of the self-regulation Code (the PAOS Code) on food advertising
aimed at children and the prevention of obesity and health,represents an
important commitment from the business sector.This code has been signed up to
by 35 of the largest food businesses in Spain,which represents more than 75% of
the sector’s investment in advertising. This code,which came into effect on 15 September and was pioneering within
Europe,aims to ensure that food advertising aimed at children promotes healthy
lifestyles in order to prevent obesity.The Code is the result of an agreement
between the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN) and the Spanish
Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB). The PAOS Code particularly applies to the advertising of food products to
children under the age of 12.The Code is guided by a series of ethical
principles such as legality and loyalty,and focuses on the manner in which
advertisements are broadcast and on the increased vulnerability of young people
to the messages they contain.Its also regulates some practices that are common
among advertisements,like the use of popular children’s characters. In compliance with the commitments obtained from FIAB that are detailed in
the PAOS Code and in the Agreement signed with the Ministry of Health and
Consumer Affairs,in the last quarter of 2005,the “PAOS Code Monitoring
Commission” was set up.This commission is made up of the Spanish Food Safety
and Nutrition Agency (AESAN),which chairs,three representatives from the
Confederation of Consumers and Users,three representatives from the FIAB and
one representative from the Spanish Association of Advertisers.AUTOCONTROL,who
have a voice but no vote,act as the Secretary of this Commission.Among other
functions,the Monitoring Commission is charged with the periodic evaluation of
the application of the PAOS Code,analysing the reports presented by AUTOCONTROL
on compliance with the code.
Download the PAOS Code in English
WHO-Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic
beverages to children
