R18 Certificate

The R18 certificate represents a film or video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). It is intended to provide a classification for works that are within British obscenity laws, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable for its 18 certificate. In practice, this means hardcore pornography.

Under the terms of the 1984 Video Recordings Act all non-exempt videos sold or distributed within the UK must be given a certificate by the BBFC. The distibutor must decide whether a video is exempt. Uncertificated recordings are not illegal, regardless of content (except where the content is actually illegal itself), but supply (i.e. sale, rental, loan or gift) of them is. The R18 certificate is the most restrictive of the certificates, and videos given this certificate may only be shown in licensed cinemas, or sold direct to the buyer in person in licensed sex shops, and are not allowed to be sold by mail order or other remote means such as by telephone or over the Internet. According to the BBFC there are currently around 250 such licensed shops.

The BBFC specifies in detail what kinds of acts are permitted to be depicted in works receiving an R18 certificate, and which are not. In particular, it prohibits:

• Works judged to be illegal under the Obscene Publications Act 1959.
• Material deemed likely to encourage an interest in "sexually abusive" activity, which can include adults role-playing as non adults.
• Depiction of non-consensual acts (including role-play).
• Use of bondage which prevents indicating a withdrawal of consent (e.g., gags).
• Infliction of pain which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or simulated.
• Penetration by any option deemed likely to cause physical harm.
• Depiction of any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse, even if consensual, unless clearly depicted as a consensual role-playing game.

R18 does allow for the depiction of most sex acts, including vaginal sexual intercourse, oral sex, masturbation, and anal sex, between any combination of men and women, and some allowance may be made for moderate consensual BDSM. As of 2008, the broadcasting of R18 material is prohibited, even on encrypted digital channels. Most cuts made by the BBFC are in the R18 category (e.g., 13.6% of R18 videos were cut in 2011, compared with 7.5% for 18, and 0.5% or less for other categories).