Advertising Standards Authority

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) publishes the rulings and outcomes of decisions made by the ASA. The ASA is the independent advertising regulator for the whole of the UK. As the Regulator, the ASA ensures that adverts across all media stick to the advertising rules otherwise known as the Advertising Codes.

Alongside the ASA is the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) they are responsible for writing the Advertising Codes. The ASA and CAP are jointly committed to regulating the media and ensuring, where necessary, appropriate action is taken when complaints are made.

The ASA rulings set out as a matter of public record how, following an investigation, the advertising rules apply and where a ruling is issued why an ad has broken the rules. They also publish a list of companies and organisations which, following receipt of a complaint, agreed to amend or withdraw their ad without the need for a formal investigation. There are four different types of ruling in the ASA data:

Rulings – These are where the ASA has completed a formal investigation and reached a decision.
Informally Resolved – These are when organisations agree voluntarily to remove or amend an advert
Mail Order Cases – TBC
Database Cases – TBC

If an organisation doesn’t take action as per a ruling, the ASA can pass the issue over to OFCOM or trading standards who have the power to take further action.