Anime Exchange UK - Wild Rumors on the Offences in Foreign Anime DVDS

Wild Rumors on the Offences in Foreign Anime DVDS

Written by Kyle Barghout, on 29-12-2007 14:36

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Can you as a law-abiding citizen in the UK purchase or own a foreign sourced Anime DVD. Is it legal or not? The issue revolves around whether the DVD has been clearly marked with the proper rating from the British Film Board. The true answer we found after much investigation was surprising indeed.

If one were to visit to the official website for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) you might find something like this...

"Under UK law, all video recordings must be censored by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) before they can be legally sold or rented."

Fair enough, and that's straight from the horse's mouth right enough... but a bit a digging by Kyle and I found the answer that concerns all of us most. Kyle personally contacted the BBFC.

Digging under the Surface reveals the Startling Truth

After our query, we were contacted by J L Green, the Chief Assistant for Policy at the BBFC. He told me the following information:

"The Video Recordings Act 1984 makes it an offence to 'supply' an unclassified DVD or video game. (All works not classified by the BBFC and not falling within the exemption criteria will be recognised as 'unclassified').

It does not cover possession. It is also not an offence to import an unclassified work into the UK. However, it should be for personal use only and the content must not breach the prohibition of importing obscene or indecent material which reflects other UK legislation (e.g. the Obscene Publications Acts, The Protection of Children Act 1978, etc). If the work is seized by HM Revenue & Customs, you will need to reassure them that it does not."

So, relying on Mr. Green a proper official, we can conclude easily that simple possession is not an offence, and anyone ordering a small amount of merchandise for personal use is also not an offence. As long as the Anime or Manga content is not obscene.

Mr. Green, speaking as an official with the BBFC, even told us that 'if' Customs becomes involved they can be satisfied with reassurance that is not obscene. Therefore. Customs will allow a personal use order from another country to enter the UK and be delivered to you without problems.

So, the rumours one hears may often be only a tempest in a teacup, as my grandparents used to say. The bottom line is simple. One can feel perfectly safe ordering anime DVDs and merchandise from abroad. Of course, one must still be careful with choosing a proper overseas merchant and not get ripped off. Kyle and I are investigating this now. Look for a report on respectable and trusted sources abroad once we have thoroughly vetted the list of candidates for suppliers abroad.