Advertising

Nearly every business advertises at some point - whether in newspapers or magazines, in brochures and leaflets, or on the internet. However you advertise, the claims you make must comply with certain regulations. This also applies to direct mail.

Two codes of practice, drawn up by the committees of advertising practice, cover broadcast and non-broadcast advertising. Follow these codes and it's unlikely that your advertisements will be open to legal objection.

The codes of practice are enforced mainly by the Advertising Standards Authority, and the laws on advertising by Local Authority Trading Standards Services. Adverts on TV and radio are regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom).

Our role is to support and reinforce what the above organisations do. We step in when they are unable to take effective action against advertising that harms consumers by being misleading or making unfair comparisons.

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