Initially, the measure is intended to prevent providers of unhealthy food from establishing themselves in the vicinity of schools. The measure can also be used to prevent such businesses from opening in certain neighborhoods where there is already “a disproportionately large supply of unhealthy food.” Municipalities may decide for themselves how many providers of unhealthy food they are willing to tolerate and where they draw the line.
If this does not produce sufficient results in the fight against obesity, Van Ooijen is keeping open the option of giving municipalities the ability in the future to also exclude existing businesses from neighborhoods and areas near schools. Legally, however, this is much more complex.
Van Ooijen is also working on a measure to legally restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods aimed at children and young people under the age of 18, and to allow marketing of food products aimed at young people only when it concerns healthy products. He is also working on statutory standards for the composition of food products and the amount of sugar, salt, and saturated fat they contain.
With all these measures, the government aims to ensure that no more than 9.1 percent of children are overweight by 2040.