Advertisements offering certain work-from-home opportunities are now illegal in terms of new regulations issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a media industry umbrella body that regulates complaints against advertisers, welcomes the regulation.

"The regulation makes various work-from-home 'opportunities' illegal. These include opportunities to 'fill envelopes' and 'type labels' -- two scams against which the ASA has issued various rulings," said the ASA in a statement.

"Consumers are reminded that if they see ads of this type, they can lodge complaints with the ASA on complaint@asasa.org.za or fax 011 781 1616."

The department outlawed the "work from home opportunity" advertisements in the Government Gazette of April 20. This includes adverts "in newspapers, magazines, other print media and electronic media and any other advertising method", said the Gazette.

Opportunities that may no longer be advertised include typing work, addressing envelopes and labels, filling envelopes, administration opportunities, gathering names and addresses, compiling data, and direct sellers of consumer goods who do not truthfully identify themselves, the firm and their products in the adverts.

The ban excludes adverts for these work-from-home opportunities: typing work requested by the buyer of a service, such as typing of student assignments; certain categories of direct selling of goods, provided the sellers truthfully identify themselves, their firm and products in the adverts; and mail-order entities who deliver the goods ordered.

The penalty for breaking this regulation is a fine of up to R200 000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The department's consumer affairs committee may grant exemptions to the regulation.