Join leading Canadian advertisers, advertising agencies, media organizations, and suppliers to the advertising sector who have shown their commitment to, and support of, responsible advertising industry self-regulation. Here’s an overview of ASC’s services and the benefits of membership.

 ASC’s Services
  • Maintains the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards — Canada’s principal instrument of advertising self-regulation
  • Provides a mechanism for the review of consumer complaints through volunteer, independent bodies known as the national and regional Consumer Response Councils
  • Publishes reports on upheld complaints about ads that contravene the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards — ASC’s Ad Complaints Report
  • Promotes public awareness about the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards through several initiatives including a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign and a toll-free recorded Consumer Information Line
  • Maintains the Trade Dispute Procedure — a fee-based mechanism for advertisers to resolve competitive disputes about advertising in a confidential, non-judicial forum
  • Sponsors the annual Robert E. Oliver Scholarship Award for an advertising and marketing student enrolled in a Canadian college or university
  • Facilitates regulatory compliance for sector-specific advertising — offered through ASC Clearance Services, this fee-based advertising copy review, advisory and preclearance service assists advertisers to comply with pertinent laws and regulations in these advertising categories — alcoholic beverages; children’s advertising; consumer drugs and natural health products; cosmetics; and food and non-alcoholic beverages
Reasons to Become a Member of ASC
  • Show your organization’s commitment to, and support of, responsible advertising industry self-regulation
  • ASC positively affects consumer trust in advertising — consumer research confirms that consumer trust in advertising increases with the knowledge of ASC as the self-regulatory organization that sets standards for acceptable advertising, accepts complaints from consumers, and reports on advertising that contravenes the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards
  • ASC promotes the professional practice of advertising — through the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (Code), the principal instrument of advertising self-regulation, which sets and maintains standards of honesty, truth, accuracy, and fairness in advertising
  • Take advantage of custom seminars and individual consultations with our experienced and knowledgeable staff from ASC and ASC Clearance Services
  • Benefit from volunteer opportunities with the national and regional Consumer Response Councils
  • Receive communications and publications from ASC to increase your knowledge of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards and ASC’s self-regulatory mechanisms
  • Preferred member rates for the Trade Dispute Procedure and preclearance services for alcoholic beverage advertising; children’s advertising; consumer drugs and natural health products advertising, and cosmetics advertising
  • Seminars, bulletins and guides from ASC Clearance Services to help increase your knowledge of the regulatory requirements affecting your advertising in five regulated categories