TBWA\Manchester's Resolva TV ad avoids ASA censure
A campaign for Resolva 24h weed killer, created by TBWA\Manchester, has avoided being banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The TV advert shows a man being taunted by animated weeds as he crawls on a garden path while spraying them was reported by a viewer who believed that the weed killer contained poison and that it could encourage ‘harmful emulation’ because the man was not wearing gloves and held the product close to his face.
The client, Westland Horticulture pointed out that the product did not contain poison and was classed as non-hazardous and did not need protective equipment such as gloves when being handled.
TBWA\Manchester also explained that it had taken advice on how to handle the product safely and the actor was depicted without gloves because that was safe.
Resolva 24h was sold with full health and safety details and the text on screen in the ad reinforced that.
As a result the complaint was not upheld and that no further action was necessary.