Question : NEW CODE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new code for regulating the contents of the advertisements to prevent its adverse impact on the minds of children in the country;

(b) if so,the details thereof;

(c) whether Advertising Standards Council of India has examined this issue;

(d) if so,the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to implement the content code for telecasting advertisements through electronic media;and

(f) if so,the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI ANAND SHARMA)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.275 FOR ANSWER ON 17.12.2008.

(a) to (f) : With a view to containing the adverse effect of programme and advertisements on viewers,specially the children,the Government had set up a Committee to review the existing Programme and Advertisement Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Act,1995 and rules framed thereunder. The Committee has submitted its report on 5.3.2008 which is available on the Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in for wider consultation.

A Representative from Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) was a member of the above Committee and the draft Code was formulated after studying similar regulation in other democracies.No time-frame has been fixed for its implementation.

Presently,Rule 7(9) in the Advertising Code of the Cable Networks Rules, 1994 recognise the Code for Self Regulation adopted by Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).In addition,Government has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look into the violation of the existing Programme and Advertising Codes and recommend action to the Government.