Membership in ASA carries responsibilities as well as access. The Code governs member organizations and their representatives in connection with ASA activities and establishes the baseline for accurate records, responsible communication, conflicts, participation, and use of ASA identity.
Document type: Binding membership requirement
Applies to: ASA members and their representatives acting in connection with ASA
Approval authority: Board of Directors
Version, adopted date, effective date, and next review: Display from the adopted policy record
1. Compliance with law
Members must conduct activities within the scope of membership in accordance with applicable law and regulation. Each member remains responsible for determining which requirements apply to its operations.
ASA activity may not be used to exchange competitively sensitive information, coordinate prices or output, allocate markets or customers, organize an improper boycott, restrict lawful hiring, or otherwise limit competition unlawfully.
2. Product identity and quality responsibilities
Members responsible for ingredients, components, packaging, manufacturing, holding, labeling, distribution, or sale should maintain quality systems appropriate to their role and obligations. Relevant records should support identity, specifications, supplier controls, production or handling controls, release, traceability, complaints, and corrective action.
Membership is not an ASA audit, facility approval, product certification, or guarantee of compliance.
3. Safety and adverse-event responsibilities
Members must maintain processes appropriate to their role for receiving, assessing, documenting, escalating, and reporting safety information and adverse events as required. ASA participation does not transfer those duties to ASA.
4. Claims and public communications
Members must support objective product and business claims with evidence appropriate to the claim and applicable law. They must not misstate government review, ASA membership, an ASA position, scientific evidence, or program recognition.
An ASA record or recognition may be used only with its material qualifications and current scope.
5. Accurate information and records
Information submitted to ASA must be complete and accurate in all material respects. Members must correct material inaccuracies and notify ASA of changes affecting eligibility, directory information, program status, conflicts, or an active review.
6. Conflicts of interest
Representatives disclose interests that could affect or reasonably appear to affect an ASA decision. ASA may use disclosure, recusal, restricted access, balanced participation, independent review, or another documented measure.
7. Scientific and technical integrity
Contributors distinguish data from interpretation and policy preference, disclose relevant methods and limitations, address material contrary evidence, use sources accurately, and correct material errors.
Good-faith disagreement is not a Code violation.
8. Respectful and secure participation
Members participate without harassment, threats, discrimination, retaliation, or intentional disruption. They protect personal data, confidential business information, privileged material, embargoed records, and secure credentials.
9. Use of ASA identity
Members may describe current membership accurately and use authorized marks under ASA’s rules. They may not imply that membership is product approval, speak for ASA without authority, use an expired status, or extend a recognition to unreviewed products or claims.
10. Cooperation and concerns
Members cooperate with legitimate ASA reviews. Anyone may report a concern in good faith. ASA defines the issue, authority, requested information, conflicts, confidentiality, and possible outcomes. Knowingly false or retaliatory reports violate the Code.
11. Outcomes and fair process
Depending on authority and severity, an outcome may include no action, education, correction, corrective action, monitoring, role restriction, suspension or revocation of a mark or recognition, or membership suspension or termination. Material decisions use notice, an opportunity to respond, conflict-free decision makers, and an appeal or reconsideration route where provided.
12. Annual reaffirmation
Members reaffirm the Code at least annually, update required records, and identify an authorized representative. Reaffirmation does not prevent ASA from seeking information about a material issue.
Controlling document
The adopted, versioned Code is the controlling record. This web rendering must match it. If the Code and a summary conflict, the adopted Code controls.
Understand how the Code is applied
Read membership accountability procedures
To identify a possible violation or misuse, report a concern.