Section

1.Compliance

2. Recognition of Advertising
3. Misleading Advertising

4. Harm and Offense

5. Children

6. Privacy

7. Political and Controversial Matters

8. Distance Selling
9. Environmental Claims
10. Prohibited Categories
11. Medicines, medical devices,
treatments and health

12. Weight Control And Slimming

13. Food, food supplements and
associated health
or nutrition claims
14. Financial Products, Services and
Investments
15. Faith, religion and equivalent
systems of belief
16. Charities
17. Gambling

Advertisements should not mislead or cause serious

or widespread offence or harm, especially to
children or the vulnerable. Broadcasters are
responsible for ensuring that the advertisements
they transmit comply with both the spirit and the
letter of the Code.
Separation rules and content rules to ensure that
ads are not mistaken for editorial.
A key and extensive section of the Code, containing
rules such as substantiation (evidence to prove
claims); pricing; the use of the word free;
availability of products, comparisons, testimonials
and more.
Rules to ensure that ads do not cause harm or
serious or widespread offence. Includes rules
relating to loudness of TV ads; shock tactics, unsafe
practices and photosensitive epilepsy
Rules that must be followed if directing ads at
children or featuring them. Includes rules about
unsafe practices and unfair pressure; pester power
and sales promotions for children.
Rules about permissions for depicting or referring
to - living persons in ads, including members of the
public and those with a public profile.
Ban on political advertising, including definitions on
what is considered political.
Rules governing marketing communications that
allow readers to place orders without face-to-face
contact with the seller. Covers cancellation and
refunds.
Rules about making green claims for products or
services. Rules cover evidence, the clarity of claims
and life cycle of products.
Lists products and services that are not permitted to
be advertised on TV or radio at all
Use of health professionals; rules on evidence (very
high level needed for medicinal claims); suitable
qualifications for those claiming to treat or offer
advice; medicines rules; herbal and homeopathic
product rules.
Rules for ads for weight control, slimming foodstuffs
and aids, including exercise; diets, clinics and
medicines.
Rules for health and nutrition claims in food such as
claims for vitamins and minerals, and infant and
follow on formula. As well as food and soft drink
advertising to children
Rules for all financial advertisements, includes
provisions on interest rates and, lending and credit.
Rules for advertising by bodies that are mainly
concerned with religion, faith and other belief
systems.
Includes rules around donation, including refunds
Social responsibility rules for gambling and spread
betting. The rules are designed to protect under 18s
and the vulnerable.

18. Lotteries

Social responsibility rules that apply to lotteries

19. Alcohol

Social responsibility rules for alcoholic drinks. The

rules are designed to protect under 18s.
Social responsibility rules for motor vehicles,
covering safety, speed and irresponsible or antisocial driving behaviours.
Special rules to prevent betting tipsters from
misleading the audience.
Rules covering pricing and content of ads that
promote premium-rate telephone services.
Rules restricting where and when such
advertisements can appear

20. Motoring
21. Betting Tipsters
22. Premium Rate Telephone Services
23.Telecommunications-based sexual
entertainment services
24. Homeworking Themes
25.Instructional Courses
26. Services offering individual advice
on consumer or personal problems
27. Introduction and Dating Services
28. Competitions
29. Private Investigation Agencies
30. Pornography
31. Other categories of radio
advertisements that require central
copy clearance
32. Scheduling

33. Electronic Cigarettes

Rules restricting the nature of advertisements for

homeworking schemes and to ensure they do not
mislead.
Rules restricting those who can advertise such
courses and ensuring they dont mislead
Requirements for suitable credentials for advertising
Rules to prevent advertisements from causing harm,
including to under 18s.
Rule about fair and clear administration of
competitions.
Requirements for suitable credentials for
advertising.
Rules restricting the advertisement of R18-rated
material
Ads for adult products and services that require
central copy clearance, including adult shops,
stripograms 18+ media.
Scheduling rules, including those related to children;
age-restricted products. Separation / placement
rules incl. political and those related to text and
interactive advertisements.
Rules that apply to the marketing communications
for electronic cigarettes and related products.