CAP Update

Getting a rise out of the watchdog can result in your ad coming down

In rare circumstances, if an ad causes serious or widespread offence or detriment to consumers, the ASA has the power to have an ad withdrawn pending the outcome of its investigation. On those occasions, the strength and effectiveness of the self-regulatory system ensures problem ads are dealt with promptly and taken down.
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Keep taking the medicine?

Marketers in the health, beauty or food sectors should take special care when making medical-type claims about their products. Click here for advice on the best way to ensure that all is well with your ads.
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"You don't drink? That's soooo boring!"

A recent ASA adjudication illustrated the dangers of trying to advertise alcohol as a social lubricant.
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OFCOM shows the way to the HFSS and scheduling restrictions

When it received a complaint about sponsorship credits for Domino’s Pizza around The Simpsons, Ofcom turned to BCAP’s TV Code and Guidance to inform its consideration. Read about Ofcom’s decision and a quick guide on how to decide whether an advertisement should be subject to the HFSS content and scheduling restrictions.
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VW upsets the "volks"

With a staggering 1,066 complaints, the latest Volkswagen ad campaign, which shows an engineer fighting clones of himself around a VW factory (because “sometimes the only one you have to beat is yourself”), has shot into the top-five most-complained-about ads. Why?
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Science and statistics can ground your ad

Keen to impress consumers with an impressive statistic about your product? Well, before you throw out those troublesome “anomalous” results and create a campaign any spin-doctor would be proud of, you might want to consider the approach the ASA takes to ads that are more spurious science than solid fact.
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More things are in heaven and earth than are dreamt about in your advertisement

Is there a God? Strangely, the ASA has recently been caught in the middle of of a debate about that very question. So, what do the CAP and BCAP Codes say about religion and what, pray tell, conclusions did the ASA manage to draw?
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Reminders and dates for your diary

Coming soon
29 April 2009 we publish our Annual report
7 May 2009 we launch a dedicated new website to bring together all our essential news, help and guidance under one roof.

Specialist Advice:am seminars
Our specialist training seminars explain how the Codes apply to specific sectors and the lessons from ASA adjudications and give general information about the system and how advertisers can work best with CAP and the ASA.

22 April 2009 Cosmetics
20 May 2009 Supermarkets
24 June 2009 Video games

For more information and how to book, go to our website.

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) is the industry body responsible for the UK advertising codes. The Non-broadcast Committee is responsible for the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing that applies to non-broadcast marketing communications; the Broadcast Committee is responsible for the Broadcast Advertising Codes. The Advertising Standards Authority is the independent body that endorses and administers the Codes.

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