Movie age limits

Finnish classification of audiovisual programmes will change when new law, Act on Audiovisual Programmes enters into force on January 1, 2012. The law - for the purpose of protecting children - determines restrictions for exhibiting movies.

Audiovisual programme classifiers, trained and supervised by The Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Programmes (MEKU), set age limits and content symbols for movies. The age limits are not recommendations, but based on Finnish law. Cinemas are responsible for implementing the age limits.

The age limits starting from January 1, 2012 are:
S, 7, 12, 16 and 18.

A child at the most three years younger than the given age limit, may attend to a movie when accompanied by an adult (over 18 years of age).

Age limits

	S: For all ages.
	7: For over age 7. Over 4 years old may attend, if accompanied by an adult (over 18).
	12: For over age 12. Over 9 years old may attend, if accompanied by an adult (over 18).
	16: For over age 16. Over 13 years old may attend, if accompanied by an adult (over 18).
	18: Allowed for over age 18.
	?: Not yet classified.

Content symbols

For movies that will be classified after January 1, 2012, symbols representing detrimental content of the audiovisual programme will be used.

	Violent content.
	Sexual content.
	Content may cause anxiety.
	Content involving alcohol or substance abuse.