UK and Eire Dual Category Symbols

UK and Eire category symbols may appear together on external packaging only in cases where the certificates awarded by the BBFC and the Eire Film Censors Office are identical (i.e. works classified ‘PG’, ’12′, ’15′ or ’18′ by both bodies). In the case of works classified ‘U’ by the BBFC and ‘G’ by the Eire Film Censors Office (both categories having the same basic meaning), the ‘U’ and ‘G’ may also be used alongside one another.

On the reverse of the packaging, the Eire category symbol and explanatory statement must not be included within the same box as the UK category symbol and explanatory statement (eg “Suitable for persons of 18 years and over. Not to be supplied to any person below that age”). The UK and Eire category symbols and their explanatory statements must appear separately and in full.

Added value material at a higher classification than feature

Occasionally, DVDs/Blu-rays and video games may contain added value material which raises significant classification issues which did not arise in the main feature. This is particularly likely in circumstances where added value material is classified at a category higher than the feature. For instance, a director’s commentary or blooper reel may contain use of strong language which attracts a ‘15’ category even though the main feature is a ‘PG’ film with no strong language. In such circumstances the Consumer Advice (CA) written for the main feature will not accurately reflect the content of the video recording as a whole.

To avoid customer confusion, if planning to release a video recording containing added value material which raises significant classification issues which did not arise in the main feature and which are not referred to in the CA, it is recommended that distributors take one of the two courses of action set out below:

Request consolidated CA to cover all the content on the video recording. The BBFC will provide this free of charge on receipt of an email to consumeradvice@bbfc.co.uk listing the VFC numbers of the individual video works to be contained on the video recording; or

Qualify the CA as shown below

NB In circumstances where added value material has been classified at a higher category than the main feature, distributors should continue to make this clear through the use of text such as ‘main feature classified PG – added value material classified 15’

Products Containing More Than One Work

The following information should clarify the situation when there is more then one work on a product

Where a trailer or additional material  is the most restrictive work on a DVD/Blu-ray, the unique title (screen title & VFC number) of said trailer or additional material AND the unique title (screen title & VFC number) of the lesser classified main feature should appear on the face label, along with the single most restrictive category symbol.

Where two or more works of equal importance appear on the recording, the label should carry the unique title of the work most prominently advertised on the front of the case or cover, on the understanding that this work will also carry the most restrictive classification. (It is an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act to display a category symbol on the label or packaging which does not apply to the title most prominently carried near it, since this constitutes a misleading trade description.

In the case of anthologies, where no work is more prominently advertised on the cover than any other, the unique title of any work on the cover may be displayed on the label provided that this work carries the most restrictive classification.

If no individual work in an anthology is advertised on the front cover, the anthology must display on the label the unique title of at least one work with the most restrictive classification.

Non-Statutory Ratings Symbols (exemption) – Packaging

Some retail products may include discs containing material classified by the BBFC together with other material (eg printed matter, exempt video works, food) which does not require classification under the Video Recordings Act 1984. If the material which is not classified by the BBFC contains elements about which the manufacturer/distributor wants to warn consumers, then such a warning should take the form of a simple written message. The appearance of any symbol implying an alternative classification for the product would be contrary to the intent of the Video Recordings (Labelling) Regulations 1985.

In such instances we advise it is best practice to add a note to the packaging along the following lines;

‘Non-video/DVD content is considered suitable for ages of {age} and upwards.’

General Guidelines

Legality
Packaging must conform to the requirements of the law, including the Video Recording (Labelling) Regulations 1985, and should not encourage illegal activity.

Decency
Questions of taste and decency are those of propriety, or respect for what might be generally held to be appropriate in a given situation. In the case of video packaging, the Committee will have regard to the fact that it will be seen in shops, public places to which children have access. Packaging likely to cause serious or widespread offence is unlikely to be approved. Some allowance will be given according to genre, classification category and appeal.

Honesty
Packaging must not exploit the credulity, lack of knowledge or inexperience of consumers e.g. by leading the consumer to expect a product which is very different to the one being offered.

Truthfulness
Packaging must not mislead through inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise. For example, a film may not be advertised as ‘uncut’ if in fact it is not. Certain licence is extended to copy where it is clear that the facts are being comically distorted and  no misunderstanding could therefore exist.

Safety
Packaging must not condone or encourage unsafe practices.

Anti-social Behaviour
Packaging must not condone or provoke violence or anti-social behaviour.
With these broad definitions in mind there follows a list of specific areas which should either be avoided (especially in works aimed at children) or treated with caution:-

Areas to avoid or to treat with care

• Sexual violence and threats of sexual violence
• Juxtaposition of nudity and violence
• Strong and realistic threats to defenceless victims
• Torture
• Excessive gore
• Details of strong violence
• Excessive blood – especially on real, contemporary weapons
• Glamorisationof real, contemporary weapons
• Overt sexual activity – including clear suggestion of genital/anal sex
• Vulgar nudity
• Strong sexual references
• Text that promises brutality, torture, sexual violence, or humiliation

This is not an exhaustive list.

The VPRC will take into account the fact that each item of packaging is a separate entity and therefore has a separate context. Some allowance will be given according to the genre, classification category and appeal of the work.

The overall impression of a video sleeve is also important and the following factors should be borne in mind -

• Size of image
• Number of times an image is repeated
• Combination of images
• Combination of images and text