Food ad claims given a grilling (27 November 2007)
Food ads are in the spotlight, with new rules for the CAP and BCAP Codes for food and soft drink ads targeted at children and calls for a 9.00p.m. watershed. Are companies advertising functional foods misleadingly to a mainly adult, as opposed to a child, audience merely fanning the flames or diverting attention to another point of attack for the food lobbyists to concentrate on? Click below for information on ASA adjudications and advice on claims for functional foods.
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New advice from CAP on “green” claims in ads (26 November 2007)
Many advertisers are getting into trouble with the ASA for making misleading “green” claims. CAP has advice for truly environmentally friendly advertisers.
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Advice on limited-availability travel offers (26 November 2007)
In a recent British Airways adjudication, the ASA has explained how it is likely to evaluate whether promoters of limited-availability offers have breached the CAP Code.
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Celebrities in ads: what to do and what not to do (23 November 2007)
A celebrity can be an asset to a brand but when an ad featuring a famous person is found to breach a CAP or BCAP Code both the brand’s and the celebrity’s reputation could well suffer. Discover the pitfalls to avoid with star-studded ads.
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Christmas list of tips for seasonal ads (23 November 2007)
Read our top tips for Christmas campaigns. Are you sure you know what to do on prices, product availability and price comparisons? Click here for more.
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BCAP launches Guidance on differentiating TV ads for HFSS products from TV ads for brands (23 November 2007)
The recently introduced restrictions on TV advertising of food products to children include strict hurdles for HFSS product ads. Do you think you can identify whether food ads are HFSS product ads? If you do, click here to discover whether you’re likely to be right. If you don’t, click here to learn how.
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ASA and CAP in Nottingham (23 November 2007)
The ASA and CAP visited Nottingham in November. The ASA held a debate on violence in advertising and CAP talked to industry professionals about ad regulation.
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Goodbye ICSTIS … Hello PhonepayPlus! (23 November 2007)
The industry-funded regulatory body for premium-rate telecoms services has changed its name: ICSTIS is dead; Long Live PhonepayPlus. But do you know what it does?
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Communications and policy unit - helping to protect advertising freedom (22 November 2007)
Public Affairs is a vital role in many organisations and especially for CAP and BCAP, which share a Communications and Policy Unit with the ASA.
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Recent and future events (22 November 2007)
CAP and BCAP offer training events throughout the year on the practical implementation of their Codes for all types of marketing professionals from agency graduate intake to senior marketers.
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CAP and BCAP guidance on "free" claims in advertisements (14 November 2007)
“Free” is the most powerful word in the marketer’s armoury. CAP and BCAP, mindful that several advertisers have been on the wrong end of ASA decisions upholding complaints about their use of ”free” in advertisements, have drawn up guidance to help advertisers use “free” claims in a way that should be acceptable to the ASA
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Advertising guidance note on differentiating HFSS product TV ads from brand TV ads (05 November 2007)
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has issued a Guidance Note on differentiating HFSS product TV advertisements from Brand TV advertisements. All HFSS product advertisements are subject to scheduling and content restrictions designed to protect children by encouraging the promotion of healthier food and drink options. Those restrictions do not, however, apply to brand advertising and brand sponsorship.
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CAP Advertising Regulation Update (25 September 2007)
CAP will be holding an afternoon seminar for advertisers, marketers, agencies and media owners based in and around the Nottingham area.
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Radio advertising food rules announced (17 September 2007)
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has announced new rules for food and drink product advertisements to children on radio. They are designed to protect children’s health by ensuring advertisements do not encourage poor nutritional habits or unhealthy lifestyles. The rules come into force on 17 September 2007.
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A conversation with Chris Smith (13 September 2007)
Lord Smith started work as the new ASA Chairman on 1 July 2007. With Government, consumer groups and sections of the media scrutinising advertising’s every step ever more closely, he has joined at a challenging time. Two months into his role, Update@CAP was interested to hear Chris Smith’s thoughts on the role of the ASA, CAP and BCAP and some of the key problems facing the advertising industry and self-regulation today. He kindly agreed to answer our questions. Click below to read the interview.
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Telescopic mascara comes under the microscope (13 September 2007)
Some people might not bat an eyelid when it comes to telling a few falsies about their beauty secrets. But the ASA has batted away L’Oreal’s defence of an ad for one of its latest mascara products. Click here to read about the difference between legitimate and false enhancement of product benefits.
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Telecommunications and Utilities Surveys 2007 published (13 September 2007)
CAP has published Compliance surveys of the Telecommunications and Utilities sectors. Both surveys have revealed encouraging results, showing a high compliance rate with the CAP Code.
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NGOs seek to call time on alcohol advertising (13 September 2007)
NGOs and some politicians are escalating their calls for a 9pm watershed on all alcohol advertising while CAP and BCAP consider the effect that the new Clauses in their Codes have had on alcohol’s appeal to underage drinkers.
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Keeping a check on violence in ads for Horror films (13 September 2007)
When the purpose of the product you’re advertising is to shock and disturb, how do you go about conveying its attributes in a way that’s acceptable? That’s the difficult task of Horror film and computer game advertisers. As with most successful advertising, however, the answer can sometimes lie in careful targeting.
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Measuring up (13 September 2007)
BCAP issues updated Guidance for on-screen text in TV ads so those watching HDTV need not adjust their sets.
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Recent and future events (13 September 2007)
CAP and the ASA continue to attend events and provide training to ensure the advertising standards codes are known and understood. Read about recent events and events we'll be running or attending soon.
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The Blue Book – your guide to advertising self-regulation across Europe (13 September 2007)
The latest edition of The Blue Book, officially known as Advertising self-regulation in Europe, has just been published by the European Advertising Standards Alliance. Intended for advertising practitioners, regulators and researchers, it contains a comprehensive summary of the scope and activities of the advertising self-regulation systems across Europe. Click below to find out how to order your copy.
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CAP Copy Advice – adding value (13 September 2007)
CAP’s Copy Advice team will soon go live with a CRM system to help us deliver a better service to you. Microsoft Dynamics 3.0 will enable us to have all our customers’ details in one database instead of spread out over a number of systems. Our advisers will also be able to quickly match up new enquiries to existing records and respond more efficiently. The implementation of such a system signals CAP’s commitment to supporting the industry in producing advertising and marketing communications that comply with the CAP Code.
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New gambling advertising rules leave nothing to chance (31 August 2007)
The new CAP and BCAP gambling advertising rules announced in March this year come into effect on 1 September, the same day that the Gambling Act 2005 comes into force. CAP and BCAP have introduced a rigorous and robust set of advertising codes in order to ensure that gambling advertising is socially responsible with a particular regard for the need to protect young people and vulnerable members of society.
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Lowering the tone - BCAP reviews the rule on the sound levels of TV ads (23 May 2007)
BCAP proposes a new, subjective-loudness test for the sound level of TV advertisements to reduce the annoyance caused to viewers by sound levels in commercial breaks seeming to be well above those in programmes. Click below to read more.
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Recent and future events (22 May 2007)
CAP and the ASA continues to provide training and attends events to ensure the advertising standards codes are known and understood.
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Two new industry members join the ASA Council (22 May 2007)
James Best, Chief People and Strategic Officer, DDB Worldwide and Sally Cartwright OBE, Director at Large, Hello Ltd, have joined the ASA Council. Five industry professionals in total sit on the 15-strong independent ASA Council, bringing their experience and knowledge of the ad industry to the Council’s work.
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Illegal: Advertising Botox, Vistabel, Viagra, Propecia (22 May 2007)
Did you know that advertising prescription-only medicines to the public is both illegal and contrary to CAP and BCAP Codes?
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Stop-smoking ads - the burning question (22 May 2007)
Smoking in public places will soon become much more difficult. But stopping smoking is just as difficult as ever. Advertisers of stop-smoking products must comply with strict rules in the ad codes and should not imply giving up is easy or guaranteed.
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Behind the scenes at the BACC (22 May 2007)
The Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre is responsible for clearing TV ads against the BCAP Television Advertising Standards Code. Here a copy executive gives an insiders guide to a day's work at the BACC.
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Food advertising: digesting the new rules (22 May 2007)
OFCOM announced the new TV restrictions on food and soft drink advertising to children in February. Since then BCAP and the BACC have tried to ensure that those engaged in food advertising know what the rules are and how to comply with them. In April CAP announced new restrictions for non-broadcast media. Do you know what they are? Click here to find out and to register for a CAP training seminar
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Is "Big Brother" watching you? (22 May 2007)
The Great British Public does a good job as watchdog for advertising: with nearly 22,500 complaints to the ASA last year, consumers know when they see something they aren’t happy with! Their work, in conjunction with ASA’s Complaints and Investigations teams, is supplemented by CAP’s monitoring team, which can spot problems even the most beady-eyed consumer might miss.
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The ads for new debt agreements that didn't add up (22 May 2007)
An increasing number of consumers with overwhelming levels of debt are turning to specialist debt advice organisations that offer protection from bankruptcy via the use of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). Some recent ads for IVAs, however, have come under the scrutiny of the ASA for making misleading claims.
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Social good ads can't always rely on shock tactics (15 May 2007)
It’s generally accepted that, to help highlight and relieve shocking conditions that exist in the world, ads for good causes can use images that some people find shocking. But sometimes the creative treatment goes beyond what the cause can justify. A recent ASA ruling against an anti-smoking ad indicates where the boundaries lie.
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CAP Review of 2006 and the ASA Annual Report (15 May 2007)
Strong rules for advertising in the gambling and food sectors were the focus of CAP and BCAP’s year in 2006. The CAP review of 2006 contained in the ASA Annual Report looks at those sensitive sectors and at other important work by the industry committees responsible for the UK’s codes.
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New food rules for non-broadcast ads (11 April 2007)
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), the body responsible for writing the UK non-broadcast advertising code, has announced new rules for food and soft drink product advertisements to children. The new rules, designed to help protect children’s health, recognise and respond to public concern about rising levels of childhood obesity. The rules will come into force on 1 July 2007.
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Updated Help Note on price claims in utilities marketing (16 March 2007)
After two years of escalating energy prices, utilities companies are now rushing to slash their rates. With competition fierce, CAP has updated its Help Note on Claims in Utilities Marketing to help companies make the hottest claims at the same time as keeping their ads in line with the CAP Code.
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Lowering the tone (16 March 2007)
BCAP reviews the rule on the sound levels of TV ads. Find out about our forthcoming consultation.
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Sex and violence - The knives are out for advertisers who go too far (16 March 2007)
Some advertisers try to achieve cut-through by using provocative ads but few deliberately break the CAP or BCAP Codes. Two recent ASA adjudications, one about knife-related violence and one about the sexualisation of children, identify campaigns that crossed too far into unacceptable imagery.
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Competitor snaps at ‘largest’ claim (16 March 2007)
At CAP it’s an all too familiar scenario: a competitor seizes on a rival’s claim that it’s the “biggest” or the “best”. Read how two reptile companies in Norwich had to show who indeed was number 1.
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Are you up to speed on broadband advertising? (16 March 2007)
If you’ve ever had cause to gnash your teeth in frustration while waiting for a page to download from the net, you’ll sympathise with the people who recently complained to the ASA because their broadband connection speeds were nowhere near as fast as the advertised “up to 8 Meg” or “up to 24 Meg”. Despite the “up to” qualification, the ASA investigated the complaints and made decisions with far-reaching consequences for broadband suppliers.
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Food advertising to children (16 March 2007)
A few weeks ago, OFCOM at last published the results of its extended consultation on the TV content and scheduling restrictions for food ads targeted at children. BCAP has incorporated the new restrictions in its TV Code and CAP is considering the changes it will make to the CAP Code.
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Headlines and footnotes: a step-by-step guide (16 March 2007)
Headline claims have been branded misleading by the ASA in recent adjudications. Often, the footnotes used by advertisers to qualify their claims get them into trouble. We offer advice on how to make sure you don’t put your foot in it with your headlines and smallprint.
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Recent and Future Training and Events: live and ‘webcast’ (16 March 2007)
Training and advice on rule changes plays a key part in the CAP Executive’s work at the moment as new rules come into force for food advertising to children and for gambling. It is vital to ensure that advertisers, agencies and media owners know without delay the implications of new rules and that has prompted us to launch our first event webcast to reach as much of the industry as we can.
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The CAP website: you tell us what you think (16 March 2007)
Towards the end of last year, CAP and the ASA ran an online survey to find out what visitors thought of our websites. The results were great but we’re not complacent. We still want you to tell us whether the sites meet your needs. To find out how to give us your feedback and to get a flavour of the online survey results.
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Raising the Stakes: A guide to the new gambling ad rules (14 March 2007)
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) invites all those involved in gambling advertising to a free training seminar on the new gambling advertising rules announced on 13 March 2007. Taking place in Central London on Wednesday 11 April 2007, the training will help all gambling advertisers to ensure that their advertising camapaigns adhere to the stringent rules that have been put in place.
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New gambling advertising rules announced (13 March 2007)
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) have announced rigorous and robust new rules for gambling advertisements. The rules are designed to ensure that all gambling advertisements are socially responsible with a particular regard for the need to protect children and vulnerable members of society. The new rules will come into force in September 2007.
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CAP supports Scottish advertising regulation seminar (01 March 2007)
Get the inside story on how the ASA works. On the 14 March the Advertising Standards Authority will be visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh to host seminars for the advertising industry in Scotland.
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Food for thought: A guide to the new TV food rules (07 February 2007)
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) held a free morning master class on the new TV rules for food, drink and HFSS (High in fat, salt or sugar) products. The event, took place on Wednesday 28 February at BAFTA London, with executives from BCAP and the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) explaining the rules and how they are likely to be interpreted and enforced.
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Utilising the Utilities Help Note (07 February 2007)
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has updated its Help Note on Price Claims in Utilities Marketing. The Help Note is designed to aid those who produce non-broadcast marketing material in the utilities sector with interpreting the advertising code.
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Keeping in touch (24 January 2007)
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has updated its Help Note on Price Claims in Telcommunications Marketing to provide further guidance and explanation to those responsible for creating advertising campaigns for the telecoms industry. CAP will be explaining the new guidance to telecoms industry professionals at one of its Advice:am masterclasses on Wednesday 24 January.
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