The Video Standards Council (VSC) is an independent body, designated under the Video Recordings Act 1984 to issue statutory age ratings for video games in the UK. Although the VSC’s classification decisions are therefore rightly independent of the Government, we do require it to meet certain operating standards, including regularly consulting the public on its classification standards and maintaining an Advisory Panel of experts in fields such as child and adolescent mental health.

We are in frequent dialogue with the VSC about their work and on how we can ensure that children are better protected from inappropriate content. This includes working with them on a call to industry to adopt PEGI ratings for every online game.

The Video Standards Council (VSC) applies the independently determined Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) classification system on behalf of industry in order to provide objectivity and consistency in video games age ratings. The VSC’s classification work is reviewed by Government as part of the assessment of their Annual Report.

The Video Standards Council objectively follows the Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) classification criteria produced by psychologists and child welfare experts. Their employees have demonstrated analytical capabilities and include graduates and former police officers. They are also able to consult their Advisory Panel of leading psychologists and legal experts before deciding upon the rating of a video game.

Officials last met representatives of the Video Standards Council (VSC) at their St Albans headquarters on 29 August 2017 and maintain regular communications outside of meetings. The work of the VSC will next be reviewed upon submission of their Annual Report in 2018.

Government formally monitors the work of the independent Video Standards Council (VSC) on an annual basis through scrutiny of their Annual Report. This report describes the VSC's application of the independent Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) rating system over the previous year, and is assessed by officials and ministers before being laid before Parliament for further review.

Video games are subject to a mixture of statutory and voluntary regulation mainly linked to the Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) classification system. In the UK, the PEGI age ratings have statutory backing under the Video Recordings Act 1984 and the Video Standards Council (VSC) Rating Board is designated under the Act to review and classify products. The PEGI ratings system - which has been adopted in most countries across Europe - is used to classify video games content against criteria which includes, for example, depictions of violence, sexual scenes or themes, depictions of self-harm, drug use, bad language, gambling and the ability to interact online with other players. Video games are awarded 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18 PEGI age ratings as appropriate, and pictograms are attached to the games to indicate the type of content they contain. The VSC uses this system to rate games that are unsuitable for children. More information about the VSC’s approach to classification is set out in their annual report, which is laid before Parliament each year.

To date the Video Standards Council has not found it necessary to refuse to issue a certificate to any game submitted to it.