Policy

Policy plays a key role in ESA’s activities and administration.

The Policy Working Group undertakes various activities, including consultation with, and representation of the membership with regard to legislation and regulatory issues; the administration of a complaints and self regulation system, as well as the regulation of the membership through procedures including the Code of Conduct and Grievance Procedure.

Code of Conduct

Two of ESA’s central aims are:

- To encourage and promote good practice within the    sponsorship industry; and

- To manage self-regulation in the sponsorship industry by    encouraging high standards and dealing with complaints.

As an important step towards achieving these aims, ESA members are required to comply with the provisions of its Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is supported by a Grievance Procedure.

For further information on ESA’s Code of Conduct or Grievance Procedure, please contact the ESA office.

Please also consider reading the ICC Code of Advertising and Marketing Communication Practice (incorporating the ICC International Code on Sponsorship).

Self Regulation
As part of ESA’s commitment to raising standards across the industry, ESA offers a pan-European self-regulatory complaints system for sponsorship.

The system is administered through ESA’s membership of EASA (The European Advertising Standards Alliance).  All matters relating to sponsorship of an event or an individual are covered by the system.

The ESA / EASA process has been developed to enable any consumer complaint regarding sponsorship to be handled quickly and efficiently, with an independent decision that will have immediate impact.  »

Policy Papers and Opinions
ESA’s Policy Working Group is active in representing the membership at local and international level on issues which affect the industry.  Topical issues of interest currently include grassroots funding of sport, players’ agents, and alcohol, HFSS food and gambling sponsorship.

Policy papers and opinions produced by the Group, or of interest from a Policy perspective include: