Home / Regulation / UK Claims Rules (ASA · FSA)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom

UK rules for product & health claims, explained.

In the UK the ASA requires every claim to be substantiated and not misleading, the FSA governs food safety, and only authorised health claims may be used.

UK Claims Rules (ASA · FSA) regulation hero
Region
UK (GB)
Enforced by
ASA · FSA · Trading Standards
Applies to
Ads & labels in GB
Framework
CAP Code · GB register
What it is

Claims now require evidence.

In the UK, the ASA enforces the CAP Code: every advertising claim must be substantiated, truthful and not misleading. The FSA governs food safety, and only health claims on the authorised GB register may be used - anything else is off-limits.

Post-Brexit the UK runs its own claims register, but the principle is unchanged: hold robust evidence before you claim, and be ready to show it. Trading Standards can act on labels; the ASA can act on ads - both publicly.

The rule of thumb: if you can't evidence it, you can't claim it - on a label or in an ad.
UK Claims Rules (ASA · FSA) what is it
Why it matters

Why this matters for your brand.

Public ASA rulings

Upheld complaints are published and the ad must be withdrawn or amended - visible to customers and competitors.

FSA & Trading Standards

Enforcement on food safety and labelling, up to removal from sale.

Lost ad placements

Platforms and retailers drop campaigns that breach the CAP Code.

Authorised wording

Only the right wording is allowed.

Allowed “Contributes to normal immune function” - authorised wording
Not allowed “Boosts your immune system” - not authorised
Allowed Claims backed by independent lab evidence on file
Not allowed “Clinically proven” with no substantiation
From requirement to proof

How the shield covers you.

You need to
Evidence an ad claim for the ASA
Defacto delivers
Independent lab data you can submit on request
You need to
Back a product-label claim
Defacto delivers
Verified results published on the product page
You need to
Reassure on safety
Defacto delivers
Contaminant & purity testing on file
What you must do

What compliance asks of you.

1
Substantiate before you claim

Hold documentary evidence for every claim before it runs.

2
Use authorised health claims

Only wording on the GB nutrition & health claims register is permitted.

3
Don't mislead

Claims must not exaggerate or imply benefits the evidence doesn't support.

4
Food safety compliance

Meet FSA requirements for safety, contaminants and labelling.

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What we believe
Rebuilding trust in commerce.

At Defacto, we believe transparency is the fix for a broken trust layer. We built the verification infrastructure - independent labs, PhD review and a public report - so brands and shoppers can see exactly what's inside.

FAQ

Questions brands often ask us.

It depends on the context: the ASA handles advertising claims under the CAP Code, the FSA handles food safety, and Trading Standards enforces labelling. Borderline products may fall to the MHRA.

No - only health claims on the authorised GB register may be used, and they must be worded as authorised.

Robust documentary evidence held before the claim runs. Independent testing is among the strongest forms.

We independently verify the product and publish the data, giving you submission-ready evidence for the ASA and a label claim you can stand behind.

The UK Advertising Codes, enforced by the ASA. They require every marketing claim to be substantiated, truthful and not misleading - across ads, social and your own site.

The ruling is published and the ad must be withdrawn or amended. Platforms and retailers also drop campaigns that breach the code, so the commercial cost goes beyond the ruling itself.

The UK now runs its own GB nutrition and health claims register, but the core principle is unchanged: hold robust evidence before you claim, and be ready to show it.

Yes. The CAP Code covers marketing across your own channels - including your website, email and social posts - not just paid advertising.

Only with robust evidence to support it. Without substantiation, the ASA treats it as misleading. Independent lab data and study evidence let you keep strong wording safely.

Turn compliance into a selling point.

Independent lab data, published on your product page - the evidence regulators want and the proof customers trust.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change and enforcement varies by market - confirm specifics with qualified counsel.

Founder call

Have a chat with the founders.

Jonas Karosas Jonas KarosasFounder & CEO
Deivydas Daugela Deivydas DaugelaFounding COO

You made it this far. That probably means you care about trust as much as we do. Book a founder call and let's see whether Defacto is the right fit for your product.

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