Advertising Standards Authority

The Advertising Standards Authority or ASA is the United Kingdom's advertising regular; it investigates and rules on misleading, harmful, offensive, or irresponsible advertising including health and beauty products, medical claims about products or services, and other advertising. It rules on internet, social media, influencer, magazine and print adverts, plus TV and radio advertising.

Committee of Advertising Practice
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) writes codes that advertisers must abide by, and the published codea are available on the ASA website.

Legal powers
The Advertising Standards Authority can insist an advert is withdrawn or amended - including text or images on a website - but does not have enforcement powers. When enforcement is felt necessary, the ASA refers the case to local UK Trading Standards, who are then able to prosecute.

Complaints about ME, CFS or fibromyalgia
Complaints that have been upheld include:
 * Brainworking Recursive Therapy / BWRT Training / Terence Watts, 2019
 * Chelation therapy (Breakspear Medical), 2012
 * GAPS Diet complaint, 2018
 * Gupta Program complaint (Harley Street Solutions Ltd), 2018
 * Homeopathy, Liverpool Homeopathy, 2021
 * Hypnosis, University College London Hospitals t/a The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, 2013 - not effective for CFS/ME but some evidence it reduces fibromyalgia pain
 * Lighting Process (Phil Parker Group), 2012 - with Trading Standards Hampshire
 * Mind Body Reset, 2019
 * Optimum Health Clinic, 2018 and 2022 (details unavailable)

Online presence

 * Website