If a film or other audio-visual programme is exhibited and distributed only to adults (Section 11) or if it, on the basis of its contents, may be exempted from prior classification although it is exhibited to persons who have not attained the age of 18 (Section 4), a notification thereon shall be submitted to the Finnish Board of Film Classification. A notification shall be submitted also if an audio-visual programme is distributed as an on-demand service or as a recording if a programme is not likely to cause detriment to the development of children and it has been transmitted on Finnish television before before 9 pm.

The notification based on section 4, may be submitted free of charge.

A supervision fee for the distribution of audio-visual programmes shall be payable by a distributor of an on-demand service or an audio-visual programme recording who offers to the public audio-visual programmes exempted from classification in accordance with section 4 a or which have been set the age category of 18 in connection with the notification referred to in section 11.

The notification may be submitted either through an electronic notification system or on a traditional paper form. The use of the electronic system requires a user contract.

All the notified programmes shall bear the markings in accordance with the instructions of the Finnish Board of Film Classification.

Notification on an audio-visual programme only for persons over 18 years

Films which are exhibited or distributed only to persons who have attained the age of 18 shall be registered in the Finnish Board of Film Classification on the basis of a notification submitted by the importer or other distributor. The Finnish Board of Film Classification may, on the basis of the notification, request a copy of the programme for classification if it suspects that the contents of the film are in violation of the Penal Code.

Notification on an audio-visual programme allowed to all

Some audio-visual programmes need not be classified although they are exhibited or distributed to persons who have not attained the age of 18. A notification shall, however, be submitted on the programmes to the Finnish Board of Film Classification. Audio-visual programmes which may be exhibited or distributed without classification to persons who have not attained the age of 18 are those

1) which have been produced solely for the purpose of instruction or other cultural pursuit, for scientific research or for hobby pursuits;

2) which have been produced solely for marketing purposes with the exception of the marketing of an audio-visual programme for persons who have not attained the age of 18;

3) which solely or primarily contain musical performances or reproductions of cultural or sportive events or devotional services or other corresponding occasions and events;

4) which solely contain topical news material;

5) which contain animations, presentations of play, hobby or other corresponding activities suitable for viewing by children of all ages; or

6) which deal with tourism, the environment or comparable subjects.

Notification on an audio-visual programme sent on Finnish television before 9 pm

The distributor of an on-demand service or of an audio-visual recording shall notify the classification authority of distribution of a programme that has been or will be broadcast on Finnish television before 9 pm and is not likely to cause detriment to the development of children. The distributor shall also notify the classification authority of the recommended age category set by it in connection with the notification. The recommended age category shall be based either on the watershed agreement between television companies and the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority or the classification guidelines of the Finnish Board of Film Classification.

Classification of an audio-visual programme exempted from classification

The Finnish Board of Film Classification may, on the basis of the notification, request that an audio-visual programme exempted from classification be classified if it suspects that the programme contains material to be deemed harmful to children and forbid the exhibition or distribution of the audio-visual programme to a minor.

In principle, each audio-visual programme title is notified to the Finnish Board of Film Classification only once but if the contents or identification information of a recording of an audio-visual programme or of an audio-visual programme to be exhibited change (for example, the EAN code or the duration of the recording changes), a new notification shall be submitted on the programme.

Updated June 29, 2009

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