The latest version of the Brazilian Informative Classification system was made official on television in mid-2007, although it was already used on motion pictures, video games, and some television networks since 2006. Since then, the television networks themselves rate the shows, while the Department of Justice, Rating, Titles and Qualification (Portuguese: Departamento de Justiça, Classificação, Títulos e Qualificação) judges the content to guarantee that the rating is appropriate for that specific show. On broadcast networks, where the system is mandatory, the ratings are also translated in Brazilian Sign Language, and may also carry content descriptors. The icons must be shown at the start of each block of the show, and their respective promos.
The Brazilian content rating system ('Classificação Indicativa' or 'ClassInd') utilizes age-specific classifications. Both the current classifications used, as well as the guidelines of said classifications, as specified by the Content Rating Practical Guide - 3rd Edition (2018) (as in force as of October 2022) are as follows:
Livre rating
L / AL / Livre (Livre para todos os públicos / Recommended for General Audiences): Unrestricted, and in general recommended for persons of all ages. Equivalent to G and soft PG for movies, TV-Y, TV-G and TV-Y7 for television, and EC (which is no longer used) and E for video games. Content of L-rated works include either:
Violence: Weapon without violence, death without violence, bone or skeleton without violence, fantasy violence
Sex and Nudity: Non-erotic nudity
Drugs: Moderate or insinuated consumption of licit drug
10 rating
10 / A10 (Não recomendado para menores de 10 anos / Not recommended for children under 10): Adult accompaniment is required for persons under 10 years of age. Equivalent to PG for movies, TV-Y7-FV and TV-PG for television, and E10+ for video games. Content of 10-rated works include either:
Violence: Anguish, weapon with violence, criminal act without violence, depreciative language, fear / tension, bone or skeleton with residue of act of violence
Sex and Nudity: Educational content about sex
Drugs: Description of legal drug consumption, discussion on the drugs theme, medicinal use of illegal drug
12 rating
12 / A12 (Não recomendado para menores de 12 anos / Not recommended for children under 12): Adult accompaniment is required for persons under 12 years of age. Programs of this classification allowed to air on TV on or after 20:00 only. Equivalent to soft PG-13 for movies, soft TV-14 for television, and soft T for video games. Content of 12-rated works include either:
Violence: Verbal aggression, sexual harassment, violent act, violent act against animal, bullying, description of violence, exposure to danger, corpses, exposure of person under embarrassing or degradant situation, bodily injury, death derived from heroic act, natural or accidental death with pain or violence, obscenity, blood presence, victim's suffering, overestimation of physical beauty, consumption overvaluation, psychological violence
Sex and Nudity: Sexual appeal, sexual fondling, sexual innuendo, foul language, sexual content language, masturbation, veiled nudity, sex simulation
Drugs: Consumption of legal drugs, irregular consumption of medicine, discussion on the "decriminalization of legal drugs", induction to use of legal drugs, mentioning illegal drugs
14 rating
14 / A14 (Não recomendado para menores de 14 anos / Not recommended for children under 14): Adult accompaniment is required for persons under 14 years of age. Programs of this classification allowed to air on TV on or after 21:00 only. Equivalent to hard PG-13 for movies, hard TV-14 and soft TV-MA for television, and high T for video games. Content of 14-rated works include either:
Violence: Abortion, stigma/prejudice, euthanasia, sexual exploitation, intentional death, death penalty
Sex and Nudity: Erotization, nudity, prostitution, sexual intercourse, vulgarity
Drugs: Insinuated consumption of illegal drugs, description of illegal drug consumption or trafficking
16 rating
16 / A16 (Não recomendado para menores de 16 anos / Not recommended for children under 16): Adult accompaniment is required for persons under 16 years of age. Programs of this classification allowed to air on TV on or after 22:00 only. Equivalent to R for movies, hard TV-MA for television, and M for video games. Content of 16-rated works include either:
Violence: Act of pedophilia, hate crime, rape/sexual coercion, mutilation, suicide, torture, gratuitous violence/banalization of violence
Sex and Nudity: Intense sexual intercourse
Drugs: Consumption of illegal drugs, induction to the use of illegal drugs, illegal drug production or trafficking
18 rating
18 / A18 (Não recomendado para menores de 18 anos / Not recommended for children under 18): Restricted to persons aged 16 and older (Persons under the age of 16 may not be admitted to see 18-rated films). Persons aged over 16, but under 18 (16-17) should be accompanied by a person aged 18 or more. Programs of this classification allowed to air on TV on or after 23:00 only. Equivalent to NC-17 for movies, no equivalents in television, and AO for video games. Content of 18-rated works include either:
Violence: Apology to violence, cruelty
Sex and Nudity: Explicit sex, complex/strong impact sexual situation
Drugs: Apology to the use of illegal drugs
Formerly used rating[]
ER rating
ER (Especialmente recomendado): Programs with this rating are particularly suitable for young children. Discontinued in 2008. All programs with this rating now go in the Livre category.
Usage in film[]
The advisory rating is legally enforceable in all cinemas across Brazil, even if the system alone theoretically bears advisory powers only. Since 2006, children and teenagers 10 and older can enter screenings of movies rated up to 16 if accompanied by an adult or if they are carrying a written-consent form[1]. However, movies rated 18 are restricted to persons aged 16 and over (16-17 year olds should be accompanied by a person aged 18 or more).
Use in video games[]
Brazil also rates most video games with an advisory rating. Until 2001, Brazil did not rate video games, informally observing classifications from other bodies such as ELSPA and the ESRB.
