Regulations concerning the Copy Advice of the Review Board

These Regulations outline the process and procedures adopted by the Review Board to issue copy advice pursuant to article 32, paragraph 2, point 5 of the Code of Marketing Communication.

1)  The Review Board has established a special sub-group devoted to issuing copy advice, called the "Copy Advice Section".

The Section is presided over by the President of the Review Board, one of the Deputy Chairmen, or a member of the Committee empowered to do so by the President, and includes at least two other members chosen in turn by the President of the Review Board among Board members with specific expertise in the matters at hand.

Once applicants have filed a request for a preliminary opinion, they are entitled to know the members of the Section.

2)  The Section is generally responsible for issuing copy advice in compliance with article 32, paragraph 2, point 5 of the Code, with the effects envisaged therein. In particularly sensitive or complex cases, the President of the Section may refer the issuance of opinions to the full Review Board after notifying the applicant to this effect.

The Section and the Review Board may in any case avail themselves of experts.

3)  Parties intending to apply for a copy advice should forward a written request to this effect to the Secretariat of the Istituto di Autodisciplina, attaching the marketing communication for which an opinion is being sought both in paper and electronic form, in the closest possible version to the final form (e.g. story-boards for television commercials, complete scripts for print ads, etc.), or at least a detailed description such as to enable the Board to acquire the fullest possible understanding of all the features of the marketing communication. The application may also include any documentation evidencing compliance of the communication with the relevant rules of the Code. Such documentation is compulsory for claims of product performance, in order to check the truthfulness of statements contained in the message.

A separate request for a copy advice should be filed for each marketing communication, and in the event of any changes made to the communication following findings issued by the Board. The relevant administrative charges as set by the IAP Board of Directors should be paid upon filing requests for copy advice.

4)  The Section, as a whole or through a member specifically appointed by the President of the Review Board should acquire any and all information and clarifications that may be needed or helpful for issuing opinions, without formalities and employing the fastest and most fitting communication channels. Parties who have requested preliminary opinions may contact the Section either personally or via the aforesaid communication channels, with a view to better illustrating aspects of particular relevance to the issuance of preliminary opinions.

5)  Copy advice are issued in writing; opinions that are negative or favourable with reservations will be adequately explained. Copy advice are issued as promptly as possible, and no later than 5 working days as of receipt of the request by the Secretariat of the Istituto di Autodisciplina. Particularly complex cases may require up to 8 working days.

N.B. See article 32 of the Code of Marketing Communication Self-Regulation.