AGE RATINGS: Law won’t be fixed in time for Q4

The loophole that allows retailers to legally sell adult games and videos to children won’t be fixed until December at the earliest, the Government has admitted to MCV.

As reported this morning, the 1984 Video Recordings Act is no longer enforceable by law – as a result of the Conservative Government at the time neglecting to get the law ratified by the European Commission.

Today, the Department Of Media, Culture and Sport told MCV that it will take at least three months from submitting the Act to Brussels until it is reviewed by European law markers.

We can’t be absolutely precise as to when we can re-enact the Video Recordings Act, but we’ll obviously do so as soon as we possibly can,” a DCMS spokesperson told MCV.

It will be at least three months. That is the standard period it takes until law submitted to Europe is reviewed, under EU Directive.”

ELSPA today said it wanted to see the issue resolved "as soon as possible".

HMV, Codemasters, GAME, Eidos and ERA have all spoken out on the Government blunder.