Abortion Adverts 'Could Be Shown On TV' Under New Proposals

Abortion clinics could soon be advertising on television and radio, under a major new shake-up announced by an advertising watchdog.

The ban on advertising condoms before the watershed of 9pm could also be relaxed as part of a drive that proposes to tackle increases in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

The review by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice (BCAP) has also proposed tighter controls over environmental claims and stricter rules to protect children.

The bodies responsible for looking after the advertising codes will ask the public to put forward their views, to the 12-week consultation which closes on 19 June.

Channel 4 is the only channel currently where condoms can be advertised from 7pm.

From 2002 to 2006, more than 11,000 under-16s were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes or genital warts despite the Government spending £300 million in an attempt to tackle the problem.

However, under its proposals, condom commercials would not be allowed around programmes aimed at children under the age of 10.

One of Britain's biggest independent pregnancy advisory service, whose clinicians perform abortions as well, said it would immediately consider running adverts.

Julie Douglas, Head of Marketing at Marie Stopes International, said: "I don't know if we could afford to do it in prime-time TV, but it would be a very interesting thing to do."

Andrew Brown, Chairman of CAP and BCAP, said those drawing up the code aimed to set a high bar for social responsibility.

"Our priority is to ensure that the rules remain relevant for the future so that consumers can continue to enjoy and trust the ads they see," he said.

"Throughout this process, we sought the views of industry and policymakers and now we want to hear from all other interested parties, including the people that matter the most in advertising, the general public."

The bodies have proposed a series of changes following an 18-month review looking at 2,500 rules and regulations and more than 400 pieces of legislation.

The new codes are expected to come into force in 2010.

(JM/BMcC)