Truth. Honesty. Fairness. Accuracy. For more than 40 years, the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (Code) has set standards for acceptable advertising. The Code:
  • was created by the advertising industry in 1963 to promote the professional practice of advertising
  • is regularly updated to ensure it remains vital, current, and relevant
  • contains 14 clauses that set the criteria for acceptable advertising
  • is supplemented by Interpretation Guidelines that provide guidance on the interpretation and application of the Code’s clauses
  • forms the basis for consumer, special interest group and trade complaints about advertising
The Consumer Complaint Procedure
 Responding to complaints about advertising provides consumers with tangible evidence of the advertising industry’s commitment to dealing with their concerns. In keeping with this commitment, ASC accepts written complaints from consumers about ads currently running in Canadian media. For more information about the Consumer Complaint Procedure, refer to Consumer Complaints.