Introducing further advertising restrictions on TV and online for less healthy food and drink: internet protocol television (IPTV)
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government’s response to the consultation on the application of the advertising restrictions on less healthy food or drink to internet protocol television (IPTV) services confirms that:
- Ofcom-regulated IPTV services will be subject to the broadcast restrictions (9pm watershed)
- unregulated IPTV services will be subject to the online restrictions (total 24-hour ban)
- in instances where a service is simultaneously available on an Ofcom-regulated platform and an unregulated platform and is identical in all respects including the adverts, the service on the unregulated platform will be exempt from the online restrictions to prevent double regulation
We have clarified these points in the final secondary legislation, the Advertising (Less Healthy Food Definitions and Exemptions) Regulations 2024, which was laid before Parliament on 3 December 2024.
To support businesses ahead of the advertising restrictions coming into force on 1 October 2025, we have published guidance on the food or drink products in scope of the restrictions.
For more detail on impact on equalities, rationale, costs and benefits, see the impact assessment and equality assessment included with the response to the 2019 consultation on further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar.
Original consultation
Consultation description
This consultation seeks views on an aspect of the 2022 consultation on draft secondary legislation relating to the application of the advertising restrictions on less healthy food and drinks to internet protocol television (IPTV) services, which deliver television and advertising live over the internet.
Our aim is to gather views on the proposed exemption of Ofcom-regulated IPTV services from the online restrictions, bringing them in line with existing exemptions for linear broadcast and on-demand programme services. We want to ensure that the application of the advertising restrictions to these services is coherent, appropriate and gives clarity to IPTV operators.
The consultation document outlines the background on the advertising restrictions and IPTV services.
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 3 December 2024 + show all updates
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Added the government response.
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First published.