Advertising Standards Authority  releases latest Complaints Bulletin

• 9 advertisements across social media, online, outdoor, direct mail, television and point-of-sale were found to be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority Code on grounds related to a range of issues including Misleading, Substantiation, Recognisability, and Availability. 

• One Intra-industry / Interested Party complaint was upheld in part

The Advertising Standards Authority independent Complaints Committee has released its latest Complaints Bulletin, which contains 11 case reports on complaints recently investigated by the organisation.

9 of the 11 cases were upheld in full and one of the 11 cases was not upheld. Advertisements across social media, online, outdoor, direct mail, television and point-of-sale were found to be in breach of the ASA Code on grounds related to Misleading, Substantiation, Recognisability and Availability. The Advertising Standards Authority received one Intra-industry / Interested Party complaint which was upheld in part.

 The Complaints Committee is a completely independent arm of the Advertising Standards Authority and is responsible for considering and adjudicating on complaints submitted by the public, by an organisation, by a Government Department, or any other person or body. The Committee is made up of a range of experts from the advertising, media, education, consumer, and marketing sectors.

Commenting on the latest ASA rulings, Orla Twomey, Chief Executive of the Advertising Standards Authority, stated:

 “The latest complaints bulletin from the ASA shows the important role the ASA plays in ensuring that advertisements are legal, truthful, decent and honest for all Irish consumers. The ASA fully investigates all complaints thoroughly to ensure that marketing communications in Ireland are complying with the guidelines and not in breach of the ASA code.

 “The ASA also provides a free and confidential copy advice service to the advertising industry to help them create responsible ads that adhere to the advertising code. If an advertiser, agency, or medium has any concerns about a marketing communications’ compliance with the ASA’s Code, they can contact us and avail of the free and confidential copy advice service.”

 A list of advertisements that have been found to be in breach of the ASA Code can be found here.