In line with certain UK legislation and the requirements of the Human Rights Act, 1998, there is a need to make the process of classification, and the criteria used for it, clear. This is fulfilled by the publication of the BBFC Guidelines, the latest set of which was published in February 2005.

Whilst the Guidelines contain specific details about the acceptability of issues at different category levels, there are three main considerations which summarise their purpose and the Board's role. Of the material that Examiners have to view, these questions need to be asked:

• Is the material in conflict with the law?
• Is the material, at the age group concerned, likely to be harmful?
• Is the material, at the age group concerned, clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion?

As with the previous set of published Guidelines, (September 2000), the BBFC carried out an extended period of intensive public consultation and resaerch prior to producing the finished document. Summaries of this process can be found on the Research page. A downloadable version of the current Guidelines can be found on the Downloads page.

Find out more:

BBFC Guidelines 2005 Press Release

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