SNP Party President Ian Hudghton has criticised a European decision to liberalise the rules governing TV advertising and product placement as unnecessary.

The SNP MEP voted against the proposals at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. There are concerns that the new liberalisation will lead to an increase in advertising and product placement and a deterioration in programme quality.

Mr Hudghton commented:

"I share the concerns of a significant number of colleagues who fear these new proposals will lead to a dumbing down of programme quality.

"Frankly, the case for Europe interfering in this area has always been very weak and this is an issue that should be dealt with more locally. In Scotland this should be a matter for the Scottish Parliament, free from the interference of meddling Brussels bureaucrats.

"As it stands, the new European directive risks flooding TV and cinema with more advertising and product placement. It means that up to eighteen minutes of a ninety minute film can be taken up by advertising and more regrettably still it permits junk food advertising during children's programmes.

"This is a bad piece of legislation which will harm the image of the European Union and represents an unprecedented intrusion into people's homes. We will try to get it amended when it returns to Parliament in the New Year."

Note

The European Parliament approved at first reading the proposed Audiovisual Media Services Directive, also know as 'TV without frontiers' at a vote in Strasbourg today (Wednesday). The directive sets limits on advertising and product placement. It now goes for discussion by EU ministers before returning for its second reading before Parliament next year.