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Technical Questions

How do I register?

Registering for this facility is easy, just click on “New User Log-In” in the menu on the right hand side of your screen and enter your details. Once you are registered you can make use of this facility to submit your request.

How do I use this website? (step by step guide)

If this is the first time you are using this facility please sign up first by clicking here and follow the instructions.

Once you are signed up you can submit a request for advice by clicking on “New Advice Request” in the menu on the right hand side of the screen.

If you would like to submit an advice request please select the countries to which you would like to submit your campaign (choosing more than one is possible by clicking the different countries whilst holding the CTRL button).

Be sure to give your request a reference, as this reference will be used by self-regulatory organisations when they reply to you.

The cost, if any, will appear once you have entered the country/countries to which you would like to submit your request as well as the type(s) of medium you aim to run your campaign in.

In the comment box, specify if there are any specific issues you would like advice on. Be sure to attach the ad, script or storyboard together with any supporting documents (substantiation for claims made in the ad, etc). Self-regulatory bodies will only be able to give advice on what you have provided.

Can I submit my request to more than one country?

Yes, you can by clicking the countries of your choice whilst holding the CTRL button.

Who should use the facility?

Anyone who would like to run a campaign in one or more countries and wishes to ensure an ad is compliant with the national advertising code(s) should use this facility. Getting advice through the facility saves time as the request form needs to be filled out only once but can be sent simultaneously to different countries.

Why should anyone use it?

Making sure your campaign adheres to the national advertising codes reduces the risk of complaints and helps maximise the long term return on your marketing investment.

Does this facility mean I don’t need to use the local advertising self-regulatory organisation anymore?

If your enquiry is for an ad that will run in your country, it will still be your national self-regulatory body that will provide advice. If the ad is to run in other countries, you can use the facility to submit your request for advice to the appropriate self-regulatory organisations of those countries. The facility makes it easy to submit enquiries.

What are the costs?

The use of this facility is free of charge. However, the self-regulatory organisations affiliated to this facility may have their own charges for the advice service(s) they provide.

The cost information of your request will appear on the right hand side of the screen once you have entered the different countries to which you would like to submit your request, as well as the type(s) of medium in which you plan to run your campaign.

How do I pay?

Once you have submitted an enquiry, the advertising self-regulatory body concerned will contact you to arrange for the payment, if any.

How long does it take?

Turn-around times vary in each country but typically your request should be processed and answered within 5 working days. Once your request is submitted you should get an email of receipt from each self-regulatory organisation to whom you have submitted your request. This email should also include further details with regards to payment details, the way in which advice will be provided i.e. on the basis of codes and/or legislation, and turn-around times.

Who do I contact to follow up on my enquiry?

When you have submitted a request, you will immediately receive an e-mail confirmation which includes the contact details of the self-regulatory organisation dealing with your request. Any further follow-up should be directly with this organisation.

Should you need to contact a self-regulatory body in advance of submitting a request, their contact details can be found here.

What happens to the files I have submitted to the Copy Advice / Pre-Clearance Facility?

The self-regulatory organisation will download the files from the facility and store them on their own system. The documents submitted can only be accessed by the receiving self-regulatory organisation through the link sent to them. EASA, Clearcast or any other external party cannot access the documents, nor can they be accessed by external parties. All documents will automatically be deleted from the facility 15 days after submission.

Content Questions

To whom do I need to submit my request?

This depends on the type of media you would like to run your ad in. If you have an ad for any of the traditional media (television, radio, press, etc) you need to submit your request for copy advice or pre-clearance for that particular ad to the self-regulatory organisation where the media is located. An exception is a direct marketing ad; for this type of ad you need to submit your request to the self-regulatory organisation in the country where the advertiser is based.

For a digital marketing communication (i.e. nearly all types of online ads) you will, in general, need to submit your request to the self-regulatory organisation based in the same country as the advertiser, that is the country where the relevant advertising decision has been made (usually the Headquarters).

For ads that will be run in paid-for spaces (e.g. if you buy ad space on news websites), you will need to request advice from the self-regulatory body that is located in the same country where the paid-for space provider (in the example the news provider) is located.

The main exception to both rules is if the ad is clearly a nationally or locally targeted ad, then this ad falls clearly within remit of the self-regulatory body of that country. Any advice requests would then need to be sent to them. Any questions related to this aspect should be directed at the European Advertising Standards Alliance – info@easa-alliance.org

What is copy advice?

Copy advice is advice on a proposed advertising campaign provided by a self-regulatory body, usually on a non-binding basis.

What is pre-clearance?

Pre-clearance is the examination of an advertisement by a self-regulatory body as a compulsory pre-condition of publication or transmission.

Does copy advice cover advertisements that will be run on any form of media?

Copy advice usually covers ads run on any of the traditional media: television, radio, print, cinema, outdoor and direct mail. Digital media is within remit of most SROs. The last ones are working hard to also have digital marketing communications within their remit by the beginning of 2010.

What is the difference between copy advice and pre-clearance?

In the case of copy advice, there is normally no element of obligation, either in seeking the advice in the first place or in following it once it has been obtained. Pre-clearance, on the other hand, is the compulsory examination of an advertisement, before it is broadcast or published, to ensure that it complies with legal, statutory or self-regulatory rules. Pre-clearance often involves an element of copy advice in the pre-production stage, in terms of the changes to help obtaining approval of the finished commercial. However, its final purpose is not the same.

Why do some ads need to be cleared by other organisations?

Ads in some countries, especially for television, need to be cleared prior to broadcast. This is usually done by a different organisation from the self-regulatory organisation. If any of the countries you have ticked require clearance for one of the media that you have chosen, the facility will let you submit your request to the appropriate self-regulatory body or highlight who you will need to contact.

Pre-clearance is required for:

European Advertising Standards Alliance Clearcast