Advertising Standards Canada releases Ad Complaints Report - 2013 Year in Review

TORONTO, March 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) today released its Ad Complaints Report- 2013 Year in Review. The Report provides information about consumers' complaints submitted to ASC in 2013 for review under the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (Code).

Complaints Snapshot:

• Consumers submitted 1,286 complaints about 1,075 advertisements 
• ASC's independent Standards Councils found 79 complaints, concerning  50 advertisements, contravened the Code
• Retail advertising garnered the most complaints (178)
• More complaints were submitted about allegedly inaccurate or misleading advertising than about advertising consumers found offensive or inappropriate.

"Truth in advertising is paramount for Canadians. This comes through loud and clear in their complaints to ASC," stated Janet Feasby, Vice President, Standards. "Ads that omitted important terms of an offer, illegible disclaimers in television commercials, and ads with exaggerated health claims were issues of particular concern." noted Feasby.

The 2013 Ad Complaints Report, as well as case summaries of consumers' complaints upheld by the Standards Councils are available at: adstandards.com

Advertising Standards Canada is the national advertising industry self-regulatory body. ASC administers the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, the principal instrument of advertising self-regulation in Canada, and accepts complaints from consumers about advertising. ASC's members include leading Canadian advertisers, advertising agencies and media organizations.

FACT SHEET
Advertising Standards Canada

• Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) is the national, not-for-profit, advertising industry self-regulatory body committed to ensuring the integrity and viability of advertising in Canada.
• ASC's members include leading Canadian advertisers, advertising agencies, media organizations, and suppliers to the advertising industry.
• ASC administers the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, the principal instrument of advertising self-regulation. The Code's clauses help ensure that advertising is truthful, fair and accurate, and are used to evaluate consumers' complaints about advertisements appearing in Canadian media.
  • ASC accepts and responds to written complaints from consumers who have a concern about an advertisement appearing in Canadian media.
  • Complaints can be submitted: online (adstandards.com/complaints ) or, by letter (ASC, 175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 1801, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3R8).
• Complaints that raise potential issues under the Code are reviewed and adjudicated by independent, volunteer Standards Councils that include senior industry and public representatives.
• Summaries of upheld complaints are published in ASC's online Ad Complaints Reports, at adstandards.com

SOURCE: Advertising Standards Canada

Janet Feasby, Vice President, Standards Tel: [phone], ext. 243, [email protected]