Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program

Established in 2004 and sponsored by the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA), the Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) is responsible for evaluating the truth and accuracy of core claims made in direct response advertising. Policy and procedural oversight for ERSP is provided by the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council (ASRC) and the program is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. (CBBB). Created in 1971, the ASRC, which is composed of seven advertising trade associations, has pioneered the use of independent, transparent oversight to assure compliance with industry standards.

ERSP inquires about the evidentiary support that a marketer possesses for claims made in direct-response advertising, and determines whether the marketer has provided a reasonable basis for the representations. The goals of ERSP are to:

• Improve consumer confidence in electronic retailing.
• Demonstrate to regulatory agencies the direct response industry’s commitment to meaningful self-regulation and compliance with legal requirements.
• Provide a quick and efficient process to review egregious advertising claims.