Consumer protection through responsible advertising
If a consumer or a marketer believes an advertisement contains content which is considered illegal, indecent, dishonest or untruthful, then the Advertising Regulatory Board can be called upon to consider and rule on the matter.
Advertising regulation in South Africa is based on the International Code of Advertising Practice and the South African Code of Advertising Practice (CAP). The CAP is administered by the Advertising Regulatory Board.
The Mission of the Advertising Regulatory Board
- COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
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The Advertising Regulatory Board provides a platform for consumers, competitors and other stakeholders to lodge complaints about potentially misleading, offensive or unethical advertising. The ARB's primary role is to impartially adjudicate these complaints and resolve disputes.
- ADVERTISING CODE OF PRACTICE
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The ARB maintains and enforces the Advertising Code of Practice. This code sets out the rules and guidelines that advertisers must follow when creating and disseminating advertising content. It covers various aspects, including misleading claims, substantiation, offence and discrimination.
- PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
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The ARB aims to raise public awareness about responsible advertising practices and the role of self-regulation. It conducts educational initiatives, publishes rulings on this website and offers training workshops and works with Red & Yellow to offer certificate courses in ARB process.
CONTACT US
We're working on a hybrid model and we're all in the office at different times.
Block 4, Albury Office Park
1 Magalieszicht Avenue
Dunkeld West
Johannesburg South Africa
+27 (0)11 593 3104
PRIVACY POLICY
When you lodge a complaint with the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) we request certain information.
This is to ascertain, as far as possible, that you are a real person, that you are not a competitor pretending to be a consumer and that multiple complaints do in fact come from separate individuals.
We share your name with the Advertiser against whom you complained, and we publish your name in our decisions, if the matter reaches that point. If you do not wish for this to occur, you need to withdraw your complaint.
We do not share any of your other information without your permission.
Your information is securely stored on our server.
You may at any time request details about what information we have about you.
We may from time to time use your information to examine complaint trends based on demographics. In doing so, we will at no time link your name to such trends analysis.
You may at any time before a decision is made, withdraw the complaint and ask us to erase your data.
However, once a decision is made, we are required to keep a full record for our legal protection in the event that the matter is challenged at a later stage.
You may contact info@arb.org.za for any information in this regard at any time.