PEGI UK age rating implementation delayed until September

It's been reported that the full implementation of PEGI as the sole age ratings body in the UK has been delayed until fall at the latest.

Trade body UKIE is appealing the move. It found that "some areas of contention that would still allow for dual labelling" between PEGI and the British Board of Film Classification.

"Any dual labelling is contrary to the principles that were established in having PEGI introduced into the Digital Economy Act and if this proposal were implemented we believe it would only cause unnecessary and potentially harmful consumer confusion," read a UKIE statement.

"UKIE is unhappy with this proposal and the subsequent delay in implementation and is working with DCMS officials to resolve these outstanding issues as quickly as possible.

"UKIE has recently held a meeting with officials where we strongly advocated the need to have just one rating label on all videogames packaging and we are confident that these issues will be resolved favourably for the interactive entertainment industry."

The then-Labour government of 2009 decided to have PEGI as the sole ratings body in the UK, and implemented by spring of this year after numerous delays. In the UK, PEGI has given age ratings alongside BBFC, who rate games in the UK given a PEGI 16 elsewhere.

Thanks, GI.