Issue number A12

21 June 2004

Introduction

The Communications Act allows for the Codes of the legacy regulators to remain in force until such time as Ofcom has developed its own Codes. These will be published at the end of 2004 following a full public consultation.

The Codes currently in force for advertising are:

• Advertising and Sponsorship Code
  Radio Authority
• Advertising Standards Code
  Independent Television Commission
• Rules on the Amount and Scheduling of Advertising
  Independent Television Commission

The cases have been considered against the above Codes.

Some advertisements will have breached the relevant code.

Others will not have breached the code.

There may also be occasions when advertisements have breached the Codes but no action is necessary, since Ofcom recognises that a broadcaster has taken appropriate action in response to an issue (to rectify or bring about the rectifications of an error). Ofcom will consider that these complaints require no further action. Even when such action has been taken, Ofcom may still consider it appropriate to find the advertisement in breach of the Code due to the seriousness of the Issues Involved.

The layout of the report reflects these distinctions.