What type of complaints are covered under ASCI Code?

ASCI adjudicate complaints across all media such as Print, TV, Radio, hoardings, SMS, Email, Internet/ website, product packaging, brochures, promotional material and point of sale material, etc.

Who are the members of ASCI?

The principal members of ASCI, who are also its sponsors, are firms of considerable repute within industry in India, and comprises of advertisers, media, advertising agencies and other professional/ancillary services connected with advertising practices.

What are the basic tenets of ASCI Code?

ASCI seeks to ensure that the advertisements follows four basic codes of ethical advertising:

1. Honesty: The claims being made in the advertisement must be true and capable of being established with evidence.
2. Decency: The advertisement must not be offensive to generally accepted norms of public decency
3. Non-Harmful: The advertisement should not be for promotion of products regarded as harmful or hazardous or unacceptable to the society at large.
4. Fair in competition: The advertisement should not be unfair to competition.

How can I submit a complaint at ASCI? Can anyone file a complaint?

Complaints may be submitted via text on WhatsApp, an online form, by way of mobile app, email or telephone. Letters may be sent to the postal address provided on ASCI’s website www.ascionline.in.

As per ASCI Code, the complaint can be lodged by:

1. the general public/ consumers;
2. non-public, such as government regulators, consumer groups and industry bodies;
3. intra-industry complaints i.e., complaint by one advertiser against another or amongst ASCI members; and
4. suo motu complaints – when a member of the ASCI Board, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) or the Secretariat makes a complaint.

Filing of a complaint with ASCI is free of cost and a decision is passed within four to six weeks. However, in case of Fast Track Complaint Redressal scheme (complainant and the other side need to be ASCI members), a fee of Rs. 75,000 (approx. US$ 1000) is required to be paid and the decision is passed within two weeks.

What type of evidence is required to be filed along with the complaint?

The following requisite details and documentation are required to be included in a complaint:

1. Complainant’s name, profession, organization and contact details.
2. Particulars of the advertisement including the exact objectionable content of the advertisement and details of the product/ service involved.
3. Publication/ broadcast details as well as a clipping /copy of the advertisement.
4. The specific grounds for objection as the basis of the complaint. The specific objections raised in the complaint need to be substantiated, where necessary, with supporting data/ information. This data is shared by ASCI with the advertiser complained against.
5. If the advertisement is in a language other than Hindi or English, a translation of the advertisement in Hindi or English is required.

What are the steps involved from filing of the complaint until it is adjudicated by CCC?

The main steps involved in a complaint filed before the ASCI are:

1. Filing of a complaint by the complainant and its acknowledgement by the Designated Officer through email/ hardcopy.
2. Examination and service of the complaint to the advertiser asking for their written comments/ response.
3. Filing of written response by the advertiser within a period of 5 business days from receipt of the complaint (extendible to 7 business days in case of the need to support claims technically).
4. Evaluation of the complaint by the CCC

ASCI also provides informal resolution if the advertiser, on receipt of a complaint, readily volunteers to address the objections in the advertisement by either withdrawing or modifying the advertisement.

Can an advertiser raise the defence that it is not a member of ASCI and refuse to comply with the order passed by ASCI asking the advertiser to withdraw/amend the advertisement?

This is not a valid defense and complaint cannot be dismissed on this ground alone. The decisions passed by ASCI are applicable to members and non-members. However, in case Fast Track Complaint is lodged, the complainant and the advertiser must be ASCI members.

What are the remedies available to the advertiser if it is aggrieved by the final order passed by ASCI? Is it possible to seek an injunction/stay from the court against the ASCI order?

The following options are available to the advertiser:

1. file review petition before ASCI;
2. file a civil suit before the court seeking stay order/ injunction and/ or damages against the order passed by ASCI.

Are the decisions passed by CCC accessible to the general public?

Yes, they are available on ASCI’s social media portals (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter), its website www.ascionline.in and are also shared with members of ASCI in the monthly/ annual report.

What are the implications due to non-compliance of decision passed by ASCI?

The decisions passed by ASCI are shared with the government of India from time to time to ensure compliance with the decisions passed. Rule 7(9) of Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 states that no advertisement which violates ASCI’s Code shall be carried in the cable service. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) of Government of India has issued advisories in the past to broadcasters against airing advertisements that violates ASCI’s code and not complying with the decision of its Consumer Complaints Council. Additionally, ASCI has partnered with Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) and Department of Consumer Affairs to curb misleading advertisements. Thus, the decisions passed by ASCI have been given more teeth in reality even though it claims to be self-regulatory organization.

How many complaints were filed before ASCI in the year 2020? Which sector received maximum number of complaints?

In the year 2020, ASCI received 6527 complaints against 3,315 advertisements. Out of these 2,357 complaints were upheld. The maximum violations were in education sector (1062) followed by healthcare (827). The main violations/issues raised in the educational comprised of job guarantees, fake job scam and healthcare advertisements comprised the lack of truthfulness and honesty of representations and claims.

Is the advertiser required to obtain approval from ASCI before the advertisement is launched?

It is not mandatory to have the advertisement cleared from ASCI before it is aired by the advertiser.

Is pre clearance advertisement advice provided by ASCI binding on ASCI if the complaint is filed against the same advertisement at a later date?

The advice is not binding on the advertiser or ASCI. However, the possibility of the complaint being upheld by CCC against such advertisement reduces significantly.

Is it permissible to identify a competitor by name in the advertisement?

The Advertising Standard Council of India Code requires that advertisements shall not make unjustifiable use of the name or initials of any other firm, company or institution, or take unfair advantage of the goodwill attached to the trademark or symbol of another firm or its product, or the goodwill acquired by its advertising campaign.

Comparative advertising is allowed as long as the advertiser seeks to portray the advantages of its products in a truthful and honest manner. There is no bar against comparing particular features of two products to claim superiority over a competitor’s offering or against making a general comparison, as long as this is truthful. When making such a comparison, the advertiser cannot claim that the competitor’s product is bad. In other words, the advertiser can claim that its product is superior, but cannot denigrate the competitor’s product or call it inferior as it would amount to product disparagement’ and may incur legal consequences. Comparative advertising is permitted provided the rights of trademark owner are not infringed and unfair advantage is not taken of the competitor’s trademark (Sections 29(8) and 30(1) of the Trade Marks Act).

Are there any guidelines on the disclaimers allowed in the advertisement?

Disclaimers can ‘expand or clarify a claim, make qualifications, or resolve ambiguities, to explain the claim in further detail, but should not contradict the material claim made or contradict the main message conveyed by the advertiser or change the dictionary meaning of the words used in the claims received or perceived by a consumer’. The disclaimer should be prominently written, represented in the same language having same font as the claim and should not be written in italics.

What is the duty of celebrity appearing in the advertisement? Can the celebrity appearing in the advertisement be held liable for misleading advertisement?

In matters concerning celebrity endorsements, celebrities are expected to have adequate knowledge of the ASCI Code and it is the duty of the advertiser and the agency to make sure that the celebrity they wish to engage is made aware of them. Further, celebrity should do due diligence that the description, claims made in the advertisement they appear or endorse can be substantiated are not misleading or deceptive. Further, celebrities should not participate in advertisements that is prohibited for advertisement or carry health warning such as injurious to health.

As per Consumer Protection Act, 2019, penalty of INR 10 Lakh (approximately USD 13,700) and one year ban may be imposed on the celebrity from endorsing the product/service. For subsequent violation, penalty of INR 50 Lakh (approximately USD 68,500) and up to 3 years ban from endorsing the product/service may be imposed. The celebrity can avoid imposition of penalty if he can establish due diligence on his/her part to verify the veracity of the claims made in the advertisement regarding the product or service being endorsed.

Are there special rules for claiming a product is new or improved?

The word ‘new’, ‘improved’ or an improvement of the product may be used in advertisements for one year from the date the new product/ service has been launched in the market.

Are their special guidelines on advertising products that claim to provide prevention for COVID-19?

Several advertisements with misleading claims around COVID-19 have emerged, such as those referring to the cure and prevention stemming from ‘anti-corona’ mattress or through the application of tulsi (Indian basil) drops to apparel. To curb these practices, ASCI has issued guidelines to promoters for the advertisement of various medicinal products and services. These guidelines cover the following main points:

1. Avoid claiming destruction of any virus other than coronavirus. In case the advertisers opt to claim the removal of any other virus, the advertisement shall include a disclaimer, e.g. “claim not applicable to coronavirus (COVID-19)”, or similar message.
2. AYUSH regulatory authorities are required to stop advertisement of AYUSH-related claims for COVID-19 treatment in print, television and electronic media.
3. Advertisers’ claims of reducing the chances of getting infected with COVID-19, or gaining immunity against it, should be supported by health authorities. Otherwise, it should be backed up by recognised medical literature, or regulatory-approved clinical research conducted by recognised medical institute or laboratory.