Legislation and regulation

Legal framework

What are the principal statutes regulating advertising generally?

The principal pieces of legislation on advertising are the Marketing Act (2008:486), which is primarily based on the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), the Act on Names and Pictures in Advertising (1978:800) and the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)). The Marketing Act sets the legal framework for all types of advertising practices and regulates relations between business-to-business and business-to-consumer undertakings. The Names and Pictures in Marketing Act regulates that an individual’s name or picture cannot be used in marketing without their consent. The GDPR regulates the way in which companies may process personal data and will impact advertisers in several different areas (see question 44).

In addition to the general advertising rules established in the Marketing Act, there are special regulations that apply to the advertising of specific products and services, such as the following:

  • the Radio and Television Act (2010:696);
  • the Alcohol Act (2010:1622);
  • the Tobacco Act (1993:581);
  • the Medicinal Products Act (2015:315);
  • the Food Act (2006:804);
  • the Gambling Act (2018:1138); and
  • the Consumer Credit Act (2010:1846).

Regulators

Which bodies are primarily responsible for issuing advertising regulations and enforcing rules on advertising? How is the issue of concurrent jurisdiction among regulators with responsibility for advertising handled?

The Swedish Consumer Agency is the primary government body responsible for issuing advertising regulations and it is also the central supervising authority in respect of the general marketing rules. Other regulatory agencies, which have the mandate to issue regulations and are responsible for overseeing the advertising of specific products and services, are, for example:

  • the Swedish Press and Broadcasting Authority;
  • the Swedish Medical Products Agency;
  • the National Food Agency, Sweden;
  • the Swedish Gambling Authority; and
  • the Financial Supervisory Authority (FI).

The Swedish Data Inspection Board is the primary government body responsible for issuing regulations regarding the processing of personal data and it is also the supervisory authority in respect to the implementation of GDPR.

In addition, there are various self-regulatory bodies within the business sector that have the power to enforce the advertising standards and regulations of the industry (see question 5).

Regulators are, furthermore, legally obliged to cooperate with each other in order to resolve any issue of concurrent jurisdiction.

Regulators’ powers

What powers do the regulators have?

Regulators have the power to impose informative or prohibitive injunctions under penalty of a fine in order to ensure conformity with applicable laws and regulations. The penalty amount is based on the circumstances of the individual case in which the size of the company and the damage incurred are factors that will be considered. For instance, the Swedish Consumer Ombudsman (KO) imposes penalties from approximately 500,000 Swedish kronor against larger companies. Regulators can furthermore refer a case to the KO who has the right to take legal action in court with the purpose of safeguarding consumer interests against businesses. Marketing that violates GDPR may result in even larger penalties (administrative fines), up to €20 million or 4 per cent of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher. However, this sum will also be based on the circumstances of the individual case.

On the other hand, many self-regulatory bodies cannot impose any sanctions, instead they must rely on the publication of their own statements and verdicts that may result in decreased economic benefits for the convicted business or advertiser if other companies are hesitant to use them in the future.

Regulators’ priorities

What are the current major concerns of regulators?

A major concern that the regulators are faced with in regards to advertising is the lack of transparency; that is, unclear and insufficient advertising information. Subliminal advertising in social media, inadequate pre-sale information in telemarketing and the use of unsubstantiated health-related claims are a few examples of recurring complaints made to the KO.

Moreover, according to the Consumer Agency’s reports for 2018, the main products and services that many consumers experience problems with are, before purchase: TV subscriptions, telephone (landline) subscriptions and insurance; and, after purchase, investment services and retirement services bus, tram and metro and insurance.

Industry codes

Give brief details of any issued industry codes of practice. What are the consequences for non-compliance?

The business industry, represented by different trade and consumer associations, develops its own codes of ethics and self-regulations in various areas such as the Ethical Rules for the Pharmaceutical Industry, the Advertising Guidelines from the Ethical Council of the Gambling Industry and the Code of Ethics for Press, Radio and Television. A well-known trade association and market player within the advertising industry is the Swedish Direct Marketing Association, representative of the direct marketing industry, which works continuously with ethical rules and industrial relations.

Furthermore, around 200 Swedish companies and business organisations are members of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) through the Swedish National Committee. The ICC Code of Advertising and Marketing Communication Practice (ICC Code) constitutes a general source of knowledge in the field of ethical marketing and is used in the industry’s self-regulations such as those mentioned above.

Compliance with the industry codes of practice is monitored by the self-regulatory bodies instituted by the business sector, such as the following:

  • the Swedish Advertising Ombudsman (RO) and the RO Jury (RON);
  • the Swedish Ethics Committee for Direct Marketing;
  • the Swedish Alcohol Suppliers’ Scrutineer;
  • the Swedish Ethical Committee for Fund Marketing;
  • the Pharmaceutical Industry Information Examiner (IGM); and
  • the Swedish Information Practices Committee (NBL).

In the absence of formal sanctions, the consequences of non-compliance with the decisions of the self-regulatory bodies consist primarily of negative publicity and public criticism.

Authorisation

Must advertisers register or obtain a licence?

Advertisers are generally not required to register or obtain a licence for advertising; however, specific products and services require prior approval from government agencies in order to be used for marketing purposes.

The following are examples of such permissions required:

  • advertisers must seek permission from local authorities, such as the Swedish Transport Administration or the County Administrative Board, in order to use a space near a public road;
  • advertising of non-prescription medicines is allowed only if the medicine has been approved for sale on the Swedish market;
  • advertising of gambling on TV and radio is not allowed if the provider of the service does not have the necessary licence according to the Gambling Act; and
  • advertisers are not allowed to promote (advertise) participation of lotteries organised without a licence.

Clearance

May advertisers seek advisory opinions from the regulator? Must certain advertising receive clearance before publication or broadcast?

Regulatory agencies do not provide advertisers with the possibility of receiving individual advisory opinions; they issue only general advice and guidelines. These are recommendations that aim to facilitate the application of laws and regulations to specific areas and ensure uniform practice.

Advertisers are furthermore not required to receive clearance before publication, instead it is the advertiser’s own responsibility to ensure that the advertising and the marketing methods used are in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The responsible media editor of the journal, or radio or television programme may nevertheless reserve the right to examine the advertising content’s conformity with advertising rules before allowing it to be broadcast or published.

Private enforcement (litigation and administrative procedures)

Challenging competitors advertising

What avenues are available for competitors to challenge advertising? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different avenues for challenging competitors’ advertising?

Competitors can choose to file a complaint against a business or a product that does not meet the requirements of the advertising rules, addressed to the responsible regulatory or self-regulatory agency. It is then up to the regulator to assess and determine whether or not any actions will be taken against the company or product. Provided that the regulator chooses to assist the competitor in its personal claim, the accused company will first be given the opportunity to comply voluntarily under penalty of fine (see question 3). If an amicable solution is not reached, the regulatory agency may request the Patent and Market Court to impose the penalty, or even refer the case to the KO who can take legal action in court against the company. In view of this, the competitor does not have to bear any costs in terms of time or money, but has to leave it up to the regulator to decide whether any actions should be taken against the company.

Competitors may furthermore take legal actions themselves against a company that has advertised in breach of the rules in the Marketing Act. Such claim should be addressed to the Patent and Market Court, which has the power to issue preliminary (and final) injunctions and award damages for improper advertising. The general rule in Swedish court proceedings is that the losing party has to pay for the successful party’s legal costs. Thus, provided that the competitor is successful with its claim, it may also be compensated for its legal costs. Advantages of a court proceeding include the possibility of a decision being final as well as the possibility of sanctions being issued against the challenged party. The process can, on the other hand, be quite time-consuming, especially if appealed, and at the risk of being the losing party, one might be obliged to cover both parties’ legal costs.

Public challenges

How may members of the public or consumer associations challenge advertising? Who has standing to bring a civil action or start a regulatory proceeding? On what grounds?

Misleading advertising can be challenged by members of the public through the Swedish Consumers Agency whereas discrimination against sex, gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, etc as well as unethical advertising can be challenged through the RO. Advertising with regards to specific products or services can be reported to other regulatory agencies as set out by law, for example the Swedish Medical Products Agency, the FI and the Swedish Gambling Authority. Regulatory proceedings are initiated only after the regulators have reviewed the filed complaint and assessed the need to bring actions against the advertising company.

Additionally, a business entity that is being impacted by certain advertising or an association of consumers, employees or business entities also have standing to bring a court action before the Patent and Market Court. A single or private consumer, on the other hand, does not have standing on its own to bring a civil action but has to go through the KO, who has standing to bring such civil actions.

Burden of proof

Which party bears the burden of proof?

In a marketing dispute, the legal burden of proof is placed upon the defendant, which is also known as the reversal of burden of proof. Hence, it is not the plaintiff but the accused advertiser who is responsible for presenting the necessary evidence that proves that the advertising has been proper. In respect of other legal issues that arise in an injunction claim, traditional burden of proof rules apply.

Remedies

What remedies may the courts or other adjudicators grant?

The courts can grant the following legal remedies for unlawful advertising: interim and permanent injunctions under penalty of a fine, damages and a market disruption fee.

Length of proceedings

How long do proceedings normally take from start to conclusion?

The length of time proceedings normally take from start to conclusion differs from case to case depending on a number of circumstances, such as the complexity of the case. As of 1 September 2016, the former Market Court was replaced by two new specialised Patent and Market Courts: the Patent and Market Court and the Patent and Market Court of Appeal. The two courts now handle all cases and matters in the country relating to intellectual property, marketing and competition law. A proceeding in the former Market Court could roughly be estimated to take a year from start to conclusion. The extended chain of court bodies with the new Patent and Market Courts has consequently given rise to some uncertainty regarding the time aspect of court proceedings. The new courts were established with emphasis on shortening the court proceedings but it is still too soon to give a rough approximation on how long the process usually take. A proceeding in the first court instance may be resolved in one year but if the case is subject to appeal, the time until the final decision is reached may take from one and a half to two years.

Cost of proceedings

How much do such proceedings typically cost? Are costs and legal fees recoverable?

The costs of the proceedings can be divided into three parts: the court fee, the legal fees and the party’s own costs for the proceeding. The court fee is normally 900 or 2,800 Swedish kronor, depending on how large the claim is. The legal fees are dependent on how time-consuming and complex the proceeding is and whether the case is subject to appeal, etc. A rough estimation is that each party’s legal costs in one court instance amount to between 200,000 and 1.5 million Swedish kronor.

The main rule is that the losing party should pay the successful party’s (reasonable) legal fees. However, in cases where both parties have been successful in some part but lost in another part or issue, the court may decide that each party should bear its own costs or that one party should be compensated in proportion to how successful that party has been in the case. The court may also decide that the party’s own costs should be recovered.

Appeals

What appeals are available from the decision of a court or other adjudicating body?

Decisions of the KO can be appealed to the Patent and Market Court. Decisions or judgments of the Patent and Market Court can be appealed to the Patent and Market Court of Appeal, provided the appellant is granted leave to appeal. Decisions of the Patent and Market Court of Appeal, on the other hand, cannot be appealed. However, if the Patent and Market Court of Appeal finds that the application of the law is unclear and that the Supreme Court could provide guidance, the Patent and Market Court of Appeal may decide that the decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court, provided the appellant is also granted leave to appeal.

Decisions of the RO can be appealed to RON and the decisions of the IGM can be appealed to the NBL.

Misleading advertising

Editorial and advertising

How is editorial content differentiated from advertising?

Editorial content is regulated by the principles in the Freedom of the Press Act (1949:105) and not by the general rules in the Marketing Act. Editorial content may, however, be tried as advertising under the marketing rules if the purpose and content is of a commercial nature. It is therefore necessary to make a clear distinction between what constitutes editorial content and what constitutes a paid advertisement. Failing to identify the commercial content of an advertising message is regarded as misleading advertising.

Advertising that requires substantiation

How does your law distinguish between ‘puffery’ and advertising claims that require support?

The Marketing Act does not explicitly distinguish puffery from claims that require support, which means that the same marketing rules apply. The former Swedish Market Court has, however, in its rulings expressed that puffery is allowed only as long as the average consumer identifies it as a general praise and it is not meant to be taken literally.

Rules on misleading advertising

What are the general rules regarding misleading advertising? Must all material information be disclosed? Are disclaimers and footnotes permissible?

The general rules regarding misleading advertising are set out in the Marketing Act. According to these rules, advertisers are not allowed to use false claims or other misleading statements in their marketing. Advertising is considered to be misleading and false if it affects the consumer’s ability to make an informed transactional decision. Advertisers are furthermore not allowed to leave out any material information that is of importance and that may result in unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or otherwise inappropriate advertising.

Although not all material information needs to be disclosed, the advertisers are subject to different information requirements depending on the product or service being advertised. Advertisers of therapeutic goods and financial services are, for example, naturally required to provide more detailed information in their marketing compared to advertisers of other products and services.

As for the use of disclaimers and footnotes in advertising, there is no specific stipulation regarding these in the law. However, advertising that contains small print text that has conflicting marketing messages compared to the main text is considered to be in violation of the Marketing Act’s requirements on clarity and thus misleading. For instance, the NBL has ruled that certain information regarding medicinal products must be designed and placed so that such information can be noticed even from a fairly quick and cursory glance.

Substantiating advertising claims

Must an advertiser have proof of the claims it makes in advertising before publishing? Are there recognised standards for the type of proof necessary to substantiate claims?

Advertisers are generally not required to provide proof of their advertising claims before publishing. However, in the event of a court proceeding, it is the advertiser’s responsibility to provide the necessary evidence to support the accuracy of the claims made in the advertising. The stringency of the standard of proof applied is dependent on how general or narrow the statement or claim is. For example, claiming a product is the best in the country naturally requires a higher standard of proof compared to claiming a product is the best within a local area.

Survey results

Are there specific requirements for advertising claims based on the results of surveys?

No, such advertising must be compatible with the general marketing rules stated in the Marketing Act (see question 17). Advertisers must keep in mind that the quality of the survey is of great importance so that the conclusions made are well founded.

Comparisons with competitors

What are the rules for comparisons with competitors? Is it permissible to identify a competitor by name?

Advertisers are generally allowed to make comparisons to identifiable competitors and products as long as the explicit requirements listed in section 18 of the Marketing Act are observed.

For example, this section explicitly states that comparative advertising must not be misleading and is allowed only if comparisons are made between products meeting the same needs or intended for the same purpose. Further, taking unfair advantage of the reputation of another trader’s mark, name or other distinguishing mark is not allowed, nor are comparisons that are discrediting or may create confusion among traders.

Test and study results

Do claims suggesting tests and studies prove a product’s superiority require higher or special degrees or types of proof?

Advertisers must be able to substantiate superiority claims against other products; that is, not only to prove that the advertiser’s product is superior but also that no other product is of the same quality. Advertisers should furthermore be careful not to draw the wrong conclusions based on inadequate studies or tests, otherwise it may be viewed as misleading advertising (see question 20).

Demonstrating performance

Are there special rules for advertising depicting or demonstrating product performance?

No. All advertising, including the depiction or demonstration of a product performance, should be in accordance with the general advertising rules in the Marketing Act (see question 17).

Third-party endorsements

Are there special rules for endorsements or testimonials by third parties, including statements of opinions, belief or experience?

Advertisers are responsible for all the material used in their advertising, including the use of testimonials and endorsements by third parties, such as customer reviews and evaluations. Such claims can be used for marketing purposes only if they are true, relevant and verifiable. Thus, testimonials and endorsements that are outdated are regarded as misleading and the same applies to claims for which the advertiser lacks proof. Misleading commercial practices also include the use of a trust mark, quality mark or equivalent mark without having obtained the necessary authorisation, as well as claiming that a code of conduct has an endorsement from a public or other body for which it does not have.

Advertisers should additionally be aware that the use of trademarks or copyright-protected material, such as text or images that belong to someone else, requires the authorisation of the holder. The same requirement for consent applies to the use of a name or image of an individual if used for advertising purposes.

Guarantees

Are there special rules for advertising guarantees?

Traders, who in their advertising offer warranties or similar undertakings are, according to the Marketing Act, obliged to give the purchasing party clear information regarding the warranty as well as the information necessary for the purchasing party to enforce the warranty. Such advertising may not include a statement or otherwise create a false impression that the consumer will be in a better legal position than it would have otherwise been in. The commitment or information must also be submitted as a document or in another legible and durable form available to the buyer.

Environmental impact

Are there special rules for claims about a product’s impact on the environment?

The Marketing Act makes explicit reference to environmental claims, meaning that such claims require particular honesty and trustworthiness. In this regard, the former Swedish Market Court has, in a number of judgments, emphasised that the term ‘environmentally friendly’ can be used for marketing purposes only if the product or service either improves or at least does not harm the environment. In 2017, a supermarket chain, Coop Sverige AB, was subject to the proceeding of the Patent and Market Court in which the court held that the grocery store’s advertisement, claiming that organic food reduces the level of pesticides in the body, was a violation of the Marketing Act.

Free and special price claims

Are there special rules for describing something as free or a free trial or for special price or savings claims?

Advertisers are not allowed to make unfair, false or misleading claims about a product’s price, the basis for calculating the price, specific price advantages or the terms of payment. In view of this, words like ‘free’ or ‘free of charge’ may not be used for marketing purposes if in fact the consumer has to pay something in return. The same applies to the phrase ‘free trial’ if the consumer has to pay something in return for the advertised ‘free’ period. Phrases such as ‘buy one, get one free’ are, on the other hand, allowed, provided that the liability for all costs is made clear, the free product is a complimentary good and that the regular price of the paid goods is neither reduced nor increased. Concerning the phrase ‘special price’, this indicates that the product or service is on sale. Advertisers may advertise products or services on sale, however, certain criteria needs to be met for this kind of advertisement, inter alia, the sale must last for a limited time, the product and service that is on sale has to be included in the store’s regular line of products, the product or service must be available in a sufficient amount (it is not allowed to advertise a product or a service as on ‘sale’ if the advertised product or service is not available in a sufficient amount that the shop owner believes corresponds to demand) and the advertised product and service must exist (the advertised product or service cannot be a way to attract consumers for the purpose of selling a more expensive product or service to them). Furthermore, it is not allowed to raise the price of a product or service before the sale starts and then lower the price and advertise that the product or service is on sale (products and services on sale should have a significantly lower price than the store’s regular price of the same products and services).

New and improved

Are there special rules for claiming a product is new or improved?

No. The Marketing Act, however, specifically prohibits advertising that includes misleading information about a product’s existence, nature, quantity, quality and other distinguishing characteristics. Claiming a product is new or improved is therefore allowed only if such statement is true.

Claims of origin

Are there special rules for claiming where a product is made (such as country of origin)?

Advertisers are responsible for all claims in their advertisements, including any claims that a product has its origin in a certain country or certain location. Such a claim can be used for marketing purposes only if it is true and verifiable. Thus, such a claim is regarded as misleading and the same applies to claims for which the advertiser lacks proof of the product’s origin and still advertises this. In fact, the Marketing Act specifically prohibits advertising that includes misleading information about a product’s origin. Claiming a product is from a certain area is therefore allowed only if such statement is true.

Prohibited and controlled advertising

Prohibited products and services

What products and services may not be advertised?

Advertising that is in breach of other legislation is also per se in violation of good marketing practice as set out in the Marketing Act. The following are examples of products that are subject to the special legislation that includes rules about prohibited or controlled advertising:

  • tobacco products (although a few exceptions apply) according to the Tobacco Act;
  • prescribed medicines according to the Medicinal Products Act; and
  • alcoholic beverages on TV and radio according to the Alcohol Act.; and
  • foreign arranged lotteries according to the Lotteries Act.

The general clauses in the Marketing Act are furthermore supplemented by Annex I to the Unfair Practices Directive, which sets out a blacklist of prohibited commercial practices. Such prohibited practices include pyramid schemes, illegal products and products that closely resemble others in their product’s class that cause or are likely to cause confusion between the products.

Prohibited advertising methods

Are certain advertising methods prohibited?

Any advertising that is considered to be misleading or aggressive according to the general clauses in the Marketing Act or advertising that is on the blacklist (see question 29) is prohibited. Such commercial practices include, for example, subliminal advertising, sending spam emails without the prior consent of the recipient and making persistent and unwanted solicitations by telephone, email or other remote media.

Protection of minors

What are the rules for advertising as regards minors and their protection?

Advertising directed at children and youths is allowed only under certain limited conditions. The reason is that young people have yet to develop the skills necessary for critical thinking and are therefore more susceptible to advertising messages compared to adults.

Advertising that includes direct exhortation to children, to either purchase or to persuade their parents or other adults to buy an advertised product for them, are prohibited according to the Marketing Act. Sweden also has a total ban on television advertising aimed at children under the age of 12 and addressed direct advertising, such as text messages or emails, aimed at children under the age of 16.

Credit and financial products

Are there special rules for advertising credit or financial products?

Yes, in some cases companies and intermediaries that provide financial or credit services to the public must obtain permission from the FI to conduct such activities.

In advertising credits or credit services, companies are required to safeguard the consumer’s interests with due care along with particular moderation and restraint. Advertisers are furthermore obliged to provide the credit consumer with all the necessary information leading them to making an optimal decision based on their own needs and economic situation, including the risks with indebtedness. The information provided on the credit should be presented as factual, accurate and in neutral terms, and it must be easy to pay attention to. Thus, it is important not to mislead the consumer in any way regarding the consequences or conditions of the credit arrangement. The Consumer Credit Act additionally stipulates the obligation to provide information relating to the effective interest rate for the credit as well as contact information to where the consumer can get further support concerning budget and debt issues.

As for the advertising of other financial products such as insurances, loans and investment products, similar rules apply and the intermediary or the company concerned is naturally obliged to provide detailed pre-contractual information. These specific information requirements are listed in different regulations depending on the product or service being advertised. For example, with regards to the advertising of saving and investment products, it is necessary and of great importance to provide the consumer with information about the risks associated with such products. Since January 2018, new rules regarding financial instruments in the EU apply because of the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2004/39/EC) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014). The Regulation applies to investment firms, credit institutions when providing investment services or performing investment activities, and to market operators including any trading venues they operate and all other such companies involved in financial instrument transactions. According to the preambles of the Regulation, competent authorities’ power should be complemented with an explicit mechanism for prohibiting or restricting the marketing of any financial instrument or structured deposit giving rise to serious concerns regarding investor protection, orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets, or commodities markets, or the stability of the whole or part of the financial system, together with appropriate coordination and contingency powers for the European Securities and Markets Authority or, for structured deposits, the European Banking Authority.

Therapeutic goods and services

Are there special rules for claims made about therapeutic goods and services?

The advertising of prescription medicines directed towards the general public is not allowed according to the Medicinal Products Act, with the exception of vaccination campaigns against infectious diseases (however, such a vaccination campaign cannot include the name of the specific vaccine). Advertising non-prescription medicine, on the other hand, is permitted only if the medicine has been approved to be sold on the Swedish market by the Swedish Medical Products Agency and if the advertising is not directed at children.

In addition, the advertising should promote the proper use of the medicine and include information that is objective, balanced and up-to-date. The Medicinal Products Act also stipulates certain information and presentation requirements, such as that the content of the advertising must not be designed in a way that may lead individuals away from seeking the appropriate care. As for naturopathic drugs and traditional herbal medicinal products, they can only be advertised as effective against illnesses of a temporary or mild nature and the marketing also needs to be compatible with the above-mentioned requirements.

Food and health

Are there special rules for claims about foodstuffs regarding health and nutrition, and weight control?

Nutrition and health claims are allowed only if they satisfy the requirements as set out in the Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. The rules are EU-wide and apply to all types of labelling, presentation and advertising of foods.

Nutrition claims that can be used for marketing purposes are listed in the Annex to the Regulation. Examples of permitted nutrition claims, provided the products in question also meet the requirements set out in the Regulation, are ‘low in fat’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘light’. Health claims, on the other hand, need to have been approved by the EU Commission in order to be used for commercial purposes. Health claims that are not allowed include those that make reference to recommendations of individual doctors or individual health professionals and health-related claims that make reference to the rate or amount of weight loss.

Alcohol

What are the rules for advertising alcoholic beverages?

In Sweden, there are significant restrictions on advertising alcoholic beverages because of its effects on public health. The principal rule, according to the Alcohol Act, is that all permitted advertising of alcoholic beverages (greater than 2.25 per cent alcohol by volume) must display the text ‘particular moderation’. This means that any variety of advertising of alcohol directed to consumers may not be intrusive, insistent or encourage the use of alcohol, nor be aimed at people under the age of 25. The advertising of alcohol may furthermore only display the product itself and thus not be linked to individuals, attributes or to a certain lifestyle.

There is, moreover, a total ban on advertising alcohol on television and radio, with the exception of advertising that conforms to the ‘country of origin’ principle. This means that Sweden does not prohibit alcohol advertising on TV transmitted from other countries, if such advertising is allowed in the country of origin. As for other media, there is no explicit prohibition of marketing alcohol other than that the content of such advertising should be promoted in accordance with the requirement for particular moderation. Commercial adverts in periodicals are, for example, allowed only if the alcoholic beverage does not exceed 15 per cent alcohol by volume and 20 per cent of the advertising surface includes warning text about the harmful effects of alcohol. Advertising alcohol on the internet is subject to the same rules only with somewhat less stringent requirements. The Swedish Consumer Agency and the Swedish Press and Broadcasting Authority contacted the EU Commission regarding a ban on advertising alcoholic beverages in Sweden through companies that had established themselves in the UK and broadcast from the UK to Sweden with content aimed at the Swedish public (eg, TV3, TV6, TV8, Channel 5 and Channel 9). The EU Commission replied that such advertising was permitted because a company, in such a case, did not have the purpose of avoiding the Swedish advertising rules when they established themselves in the UK.

Tobacco

What are the rules for advertising tobacco products?

The Tobacco Act bans almost all forms of tobacco advertising in Sweden, including indirect advertising and distribution of free tobacco products. The major exceptions to the prohibition on tobacco advertising, provided that such advertising is not intrusive, insistent or encouraging the use of tobacco, are commercial messages at the point of sale and advertising that only consists of providing tobacco products for sale.

Gambling

Are there special rules for advertising gambling?

The main legislation that regulates gambling in Sweden is the Gambling Act, which came into effect on 1 January 2019. Only licensed gambling operators are allowed to advertise on the Swedish market and such permits are granted by the Swedish Gambling Authority. A licence may, according to the Gambling Act, be given to a person who is deemed to have the knowledge, experience and organisation required to run such a gambling business, can be assumed to run such a gambling business in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and otherwise is considered appropriate to run such a gambling business. On the other hand, a licence may, according to the Act, not be given to a person who is, for example, in bankruptcy, under the age of 18 years or has been found guilty of a serious crime. At the same time, the Act makes it possible for advertisers to market via social media such as Facebook and Instagram, something that was not allowed according to the previous rules.

In addition to the clauses stipulated in the Marketing Act, an advertiser who advertises gambling also needs to be compliant with the clauses concerning marketing according to the Gambling Act. The Gambling Act stipulates that any marketing of gambling needs to be, inter alia, moderate, not directed at children or youths under the age of 18 and not directed to an individual who has signed up to the new ‘opt-out’ list for gambling (available to customers via the website www.spelpaus.se). KO has stated that an advertiser who makes claims like, for example, ‘the road to gold’, ‘the prize on your bank account within five minutes’, ‘in this way you can receive millions’ and ‘Play Now!’ may be a violation of the Gambling Act’s requirements on moderation.

Lotteries

What are the rules for advertising lotteries?

The rules that regulate the advertising of lotteries in Sweden are set out in the Gambling Act. In order to arrange a lottery for the general public, it is a general requirement that a licence be obtained from the Swedish Gambling Authority. Advertising that is prohibited under the Gambling Act is any advertising that promotes the participation in unlawfully arranged lotteries, and advertising that promotes the participation in lotteries arranged outside of Sweden.

In addition, new provisions regarding advertising have been introduced under the Gambling Act, including a general provision that states the need to observe ‘moderation’, and provisions that prohibit advertising specifically directed at children and youths under the age of 18 as well as to an individual who has signed up to the new ‘opt-out’ list for gambling (available to customers via the website www.spelpaus.se).

The requirement of moderation, inter alia, refers to the advertising not being intrusive or socially attractive and that the commercial content is factual and reliable.

Promotional contests

What are the requirements for advertising and offering promotional contests?

According to the new Gambling Act, an advertiser who offers or advertises a promotional contest where there is no required payment, does not need a licence according to the act. This means that the provisions set out in the Marketing Act are applicable to the advertising of promotional contests. The advertising of promotional contests needs to include all detailed information regarding the essential conditions for the contest, such as price information, time limitations and other limitations set for the contest. As with other types of marketing, the advertisement of a promotional contest must not be false or misleading.

Indirect marketing

Are there any restrictions on indirect marketing, such as commercial sponsorship of programmes and product placement?

Provisions regarding product placement and sponsoring are set out in the Radio and Television Act. The sponsorship rules state that the sponsor needs to be announced in an appropriate manner at the beginning or end, or both, of the programme. Such sponsorship message should include the sponsor’s name, logo or other distinctive mark and may not contain promotional elements.

The following rules apply to programme sponsorship:

  • news programmes cannot be sponsored;
  • sponsorship by someone whose main activity is the production or sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and refill containers (e-juice) is prohibited; and
  • sponsorship by pharmaceutical companies that promote prescription medicines, medical treatments available on prescription or infant formula is prohibited.

Similar to the sponsorship rules, product placement is permitted only if information is given about the placement at the beginning and end of the programme as well as following advertisement breaks. The information should contain a neutral announcement about the appearance of the product placement and the product or service that has been placed in the programme.

Product placement is furthermore allowed only in movies, TV shows, sports programmes and light entertainment programmes, based on the following rules:

  • the product placement does not unduly benefit commercial interests;
  • the product placement of tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines, infant formula or e-cigarettes and e-juice is prohibited;
  • gambling products if the advertiser does not have the necessary licence under the Gambling Act; and
  • the programme is not primarily intended for children under 12 years of age.

Other advertising rules

Briefly give details of any other notable special advertising regimes.

Political propaganda, religious teachings and civic information are not subject to the Swedish marketing rules but fall under the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (1991:1469) and the Freedom of the Press Act. Gender discriminating and other offensive advertising that are in breach of the ethical marketing rules also fall outside the Marketing Act. The RO is, however, entitled to handle complaints about gender discrimination and unethical advertising with the guidance of the ICC Code (see question 5).

Social media

Regulation

Are there any rules particular to your jurisdiction pertaining to the use of social media for advertising?

Advertising through social media must comply with the same advertising rules as any other type of media. A recurring issue, however, is the difficulty in determining whether texts and images conveyed through blogs, Instagram and other social networks are purely informative or advertorial. Since subliminal advertising is prohibited under the Marketing Act, an advertorial post in a blog or on Instagram must clearly indicate its commercial purpose by being labelled as an advertisement (see question 43). It is furthermore important to have such labelling in the introduction and not at the bottom of the post and that the reader is able to identify the sender of the advertisement.

Have there been notable instances of advertisers being criticised for their use of social media?

The use of subliminal advertising in social media has been the subject of extensive discussions for the past few years in Sweden, in which bloggers and their advertising posts have drawn the most headlines. The question raised in these cases has been whether the advertisement labelling had been sufficient to meet the requirements as set out in the Marketing Act (see question 42).

In addition, the Nordic Consumer Ombudsmen, a cooperation set-up between the Nordic countries, reached a joint position statement on social media advertising in 2016. The Ombudsmen stated, among other things, that an advertorial post is sufficiently labelled if it is clearly marked with the word ‘advertisement’ in the introduction, whereas an introduction such as: ‘This is in collaboration with . . .’ is not always considered sufficiently clear with regards to commercial messages hidden in editorial text.

Are there regulations governing privacy concerns when using social media?

There are several regulations governing the privacy of an individual when using social media. The Act on Names and Pictures in Advertising, and the Electronic Communication Act (2003:389) (referring to online behavioural advertising such as cookies), both stipulate the requirement for obtaining approval from the person being exposed.

The provisions set out in the GDPR additionally regulate an individual’s right not to have their privacy violated through the incorrect processing of their personal data. The GDPR applies to all organisations within the EU, such as businesses, charities or public authorities, which collect, store or process the personal data of individuals, regardless if the individuals are EU citizens or not. Organisations based outside the EU that offer goods or services to EU residents, monitor their behaviour or process their personal data are also subject to the GDPR.

The GDPR is quite an extensive regulation and stipulates, for example, that an advertiser who processes someone’s personal data needs to give that individual certain information about the processing (see articles 13, 14 and 15 of GDPR), which should include, inter alia, the purpose or purposes of the processing, who the controller of the personal data is, the legal ground or grounds that the processing is based on, the retention period of the personal data, if the personal data is transferred outside of the EU or EES, the rights of the individuals, etc.

Update and trends

Recent developments

Updates and trends

The new Gambling Act, which came into effect on 1 January of 2019 is a reaction to the massive increase of advertising in this area that has occurred in recent years, especially from foreign based companies. The new Act requires that anyone who provides any type of gambling service or product on the Swedish gambling market needs a licence. Companies that do not have a licence will not be able to provide their services and products and companies that have received a licence will have to follow clear rules. Among other things, they must register each player and counteract excessive gambling. In relation to marketing of these services and products, the most uncertain area for the time being is how to interpret the provision for an advertiser to observe ‘moderation’. This will ultimately be left to the courts to construe, however, KO, in its statements seems to have the view that the term should be interpreted quite strictly.

In addition to the implementation of this act, the Swedish government has appointed a new committee with the purpose of considering more measures that will reduce the harmful effects of gambling online and on video lottery terminal (VLT). The committee will also analyse the role of Svenska Spel (a government-owned company operating within the regulated gambling market in Sweden) after the implementation of the new Act, propose additional ways to exclude non-licensed gambling companies and propose the necessary measures to strengthen gambling regulations. The committee’s findings may result in the introduction of even tougher requirements concerning marketing of gambling services and products in Sweden. The committee will publish its findings no later than 31 October 2020.

On 10 January 2017, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communication to replace the 2009 e-Privacy Directive and align the e-privacy rules with the GDPR. The draft of the new-e-Privacy Regulation aims at reinforcing trust and security in the Digital Single Market by updating the legal framework on e-Privacy. The regulation seeks to extend the scope of protection to all electronic communications service providers, including Gmail, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger and to metadata derived from electronic communications such as the time and location of a call. The proposed changes are likely to impact advertising on the Internet and in social media. An ‘optimistic’ forecast is that the e-Privacy Regulation will be implemented in late 2019.