The Classification Review Board (CRB) today handed down its reasons for the decision to uphold an X18+ rating for the film Viva Erotica.

In December 2006, AdultShop.com appealed the decision of the Office of Film and Literature Classification to classify the film X18+ rating on the basis that research highlighted that the reasonable adult was not offended by the real sex portrayed in the film, and therefore should be awarded an R18+ classifciation.

The CRB's reasons for their decision indicate that they disregarded the ACNielsen research results that were presented, that indicate that only 30% of Australian adults are offended by explicit erotic films, and furthermore they also disregarded research by independent experts.

'The Review Board did not consider that the expert and survey evidence  provided by the Applicant lent significant support to the Applicant's arguments that reasonable adults were not offended by films containing explicit sex between consenting adults - and the film was therefore not offensive to the reasonable adult'

Click here for a full copy of the report Reasons for Decision - Viva Erotica