Cyprus

[CY] New Film Classification Regulations Approved

IRIS 2003-10:1/18

Andreas Christodoulou

Cyprus

In June 2003, the House of Representatives approved Regulations issued under Section 12 of the Law 238 (I) of 2002 on Film Classification.

The main feature of the new Regulations is the introduction of a new classification system, consisting of five categories, based on criteria of language, sex and violence. The categories are as following: 1. Category (K) ­ Suitable for all audiences. 2. Category (12) ­ Not suitable for viewing by persons under the age of 12 3. Category (15) ­ Not suitable for viewing by persons under the age of 15 4. Category (18) ­ Not suitable for viewing by persons under the age of 18 5. Not classified (MK) ­ Films of this designation

Not Classified (MK) films or their promotional materials contain the following:

- Scenes offensive in a flagrant manner to the national or religious sentiments of the public;

- Scenes encouraging, directly or indirectly, the use of illicit drugs;

- Scenes encouraging, inciting, promoting as acceptable, desirable, exciting or pleasurable, acts, moves or situations unacceptable to society, such as racism or other political behaviours which seek the abolition of democracy as a political system;

- Scenes depicting paedophilic perversions, bestiality, necrophilia, sado-masochism or any form of sexual behaviour which tends to degrade human dignity;

- Realistic depiction of violent sexual acts and excessive and wanton sexual cruelty.

The MK category includes pornographic films as mentioned above.

The new Law and associated Regulations come into force after the list of members of the Film Classification Committee has been be published in the Official Government Gazette.


References

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  • Regulatory Administrative Act No. 561/2003 on Film Classification Regulations, issued under Section 12 of the Film Classification Law 2002; Official Government Gazette ­ Annex E.E. III (I) No. 3735, 11 July 2003

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  • Law 238 (I) of 2002 on Film Classification; Official Government Gazette ref. Annex E.E. I (I), No. 3670, 31 December 2002

This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.