The Government has pledged its support for the advertising industry
in its battle to prevent new European Union rules protecting consumers
undermining agencies' freedom to run EU-wide campaigns.
The Department of Trade and Industry has moved to allay the fears of the
Advertising Association that an EU directive on consumer protection
could end the current rule under which an ad legal in its country of
origin can run in all 15 EU states.
The DTI said the EU proposals were an opportunity to enshrine into EU
law existing rules such as the "country of origin" provision and
Britain's self-regulatory system for monitoring ads.
British ministers will fight to ensure the industry's freedom are
safeguarded when plans outlined in a European Commission Green Paper
last month are turned into common consumer protection policy.
A DTI spokesman said: "The advertising industry can be sure the
Government is aware of its concerns and shares them."
He said the best outcome would be one set of rules for each member state
with consistency and clarity across Europe. The British Government will
argue that common standards for consumers should "complement but not
complicate" the internal market.
The DTI has asked industry groups, including the AA, to comment on the
Green Paper by December and will then finalise the Government's formal
submission to Brussels.
The AA's initiative is being headed by Sara Soltani, its director of
public affairs.
