The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (abbreviated ASA) was an independent entity organised and financed by members of the marketing communications industry of South Africa. Its purpose was to manage South Africa's voluntary, self-regulating system of advertising. The ASA worked with a variety of marketing communication industry stakeholders to ensure that advertising content in the country met the requirements of its Code of Advertising Practice and to control advertising content in the South African public's interest. The ASA of South Africa's Code of Advertising Practice was based on the Consolidated ICC Code of Marketing and Advertising Communication Practice prepared by the International Chamber of Commerce. Member organisations, including advertisers, advertising agencies, and the media agreed upon advertising standards in the ASA code and worked to effect the swift correction or removal of any advertising that failed to meet their agreed-upon standards. The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) superseded the ASA in terms of administering the Code of Advertising Practice.

Members

Member organisations include:

Notable rulings

History

In September 2018, the ASA was forced into liquidation. In November 2018, the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) superseded the ASA in terms of administering the Code of Advertising Practice.