On November 19, 2024, the final conference titled “Strategic Vectors for Aligning Ukraine with European Responsible Marketing Practices: Protecting Children’s Rights from the Influence of Unhealthy Food Advertising” was held. The event marked the conclusion of the project “Harmonizing Ukrainian Marketing Policy with European Practices for Protecting Children and Adolescents from the Influence of Unhealthy Food Advertising.”
This project is implemented by the Ukrainian Marketing Association (UMA) in partnership with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA), the NGO “Nutrition and Quality of Life”, and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP), with support from the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation under the joint initiative “European Renaissance of Ukraine.”
Key Focus Areas Discussed:
– The importance of comprehensive regulation to protect children from exposure to advertisements promoting unhealthy foods, through a combination of legal and regulatory measures and soft-law instruments based on self-regulation principles.
– Addressing gaps in the implementation of legislative and regulatory acts by developing self-regulation rules in food and beverage marketing, emphasizing children’s rights.
– Adapting the European EU Pledge initiative for implementation in Ukraine.
– Raising awareness to create a healthy food environment and reduce the impact of advertising on children’s and adolescents’ food choices.
– Conducting an extensive information campaign to promote responsible marketing of food and beverages among all stakeholders, including businesses, advertisers, parents, children, and policymakers.
Featured Experts
The conference included presentations by leading experts who unveiled a Roadmap and Recommendations for a national program to align Ukrainian food marketing regulations with European standards:
– Iryna LYLYK – President of UMA
– Natalia SAVYTSKA – Head of the Department of Marketing, Reputation Management, and Customer Experience at the State Biotechnological University
– Oleksandr HLADUNOV – Vice President of UMA
– Viktoria YEVLASH – Head of the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Nutrition Hygiene at the State Biotechnological University; representative of the NGO “Nutrition and Quality of Life”
– Olena ANDRIENKO – Member of the Supervisory Board of the All-Ukrainian Advertising Coalition; Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Publicis Groupe Ukraine
European partners of the project, including Orla TWOMEY (Chairwoman, EASA; CEO, Advertising Standards Authority Ireland) and Ana-Elena HOHOFF (Associate Vice President, World Federation of Advertisers), supported the initiative for introducing self-regulatory practices and voluntary adherence to the EUPledge by food businesses.
Additional Contributors
Prominent participants in the expert discussions included:
– Andriy SKIPALSKYI – National Coordinator for Noncommunicable Disease Programs, WHO Ukraine
– Taisia KLOCHKO – Strategic Development Manager, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine
– Tetiana GVOZDETSKA – Senior Specialist, Advertisement Control and Anti-Tobacco Compliance, SSUFSCP, Volyn Region
– Olena ZAPOROZHSKA – Head of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention, Public Health Center, Ministry of Health of Ukraine
– Inna PANCHENKO – Marketing Department Head, TERRA LLC.
Participants and Outcomes
The conference brought together 126 participants, including representatives from food industry businesses, transnational corporations, Ukrainian companies, advertisers, market regulators (SSUFSCP, Ministry of Health, and Public Health Center), WHO representatives in Ukraine, academics, and educators.
Access the expert presentations here