The following information should be used before sending in a packaging submission.

Submission form

A completed packaging submission form should be completed and sent in with each submission. No submissions or resubmissions will be accepted unless accompanied by a fully completed Submission Form.

Payment

No packaging will be viewed until payment has been received. Please refer to the fees section for further information.

Packaging

Three copies  of the finished sleeve or trimmed colour proofs must be sent in for each submission. We will only accept packaging that is the actual sleeve size. Alternative versions are acceptable in a single submission only for reversible sleeves and should be clearly labelled ‘side 1′ and ‘side 2′

It is essential that the packaging has been designed in accordance with the Video Recordings (labelling) Regulations 1985. Failure to do so could result in the packaging not being approved. Please refer to the labelling regulations section and guidance for packaging section for assistance.

It is not necessary to submit packaging for VPRC approval where the key art, key text and display of classification symbols and statements required by the labelling regulations remains unchanged from a previously approved version, provided the following course of action is followed:
The Rights Holder of a work will need to ascertain from their records that packaging has previously been approved and email Information Services at helpline@bbfc.co.uk, to this effect. If we do not receive such notification via email, we will assume that the work is still pending packaging approval and no final certificate will be issued.

If the final category of the DVD/Blu-ray is not yet known then the most likely category should be represented and then changed as appropriate in accordance with the undertaking entered into on signing the submission form.

To obtain appropriate symbols and templates from the BBFC, please email helpline@bbfc.co.uk

Checklist

To avoid unnecessary delays please check the following list before submitting your packaging to the VPRC. This is not an exhaustive list but covers the areas that most commonly cause delays or require modification.

If the answer to any question is ‘no’ the packaging will not be approved.

• Have you included a fully completed and signed submission form?
• Has payment been received for the packaging submission?
• Have you included three trimmed copies of the packaging?
• Is the submitted packaging actual size?
• Are category symbols present and full size on front cover and one other face (excluding the spine)?
  (letters/numbers – e.g. ‘U’ or ’15′ – must be at least 5mm high excluding the  shadow)
• If spine is 2cm across or greater, is category symbol present and full size?
  (a spine less than 2cm across may contain a smaller symbol, or no symbol at all)
• Does one face (not the spine) include the category symbol and appropriate explanatory statement within a single rectangular shaped frame?
  (lines within the rectangular frame should not extend to the sides of the frame)
• Are category symbols the correct colour and shape for the category?
• If the VPRC logo is present, is it in black (or white, if background is dark), at least 8mm in height, on the back cover, and close to the box containing the BBFC classification symbol and explanatory statement? (Note: there is no requirement for the logo to be present at this stage, but if it is present, it must be correct. The sleeve on the final retail/rental product must contain the logo as described)

Notification of decision

Following the decision of the VPRC, details of whether the packaging has been approved or needs modifications will be available on the extranet. For customers not on the extranet, notification will be sent out in the post with a copy of the finished sleeve included.

If modifications are required, these will be detailed, with particular reference to design, still photograph or text.

Modified packaging should then be resubmitted, using the form provided. After consideration, a notice of the decision on their submitted packaging will be sent to the client in the same way.

The sleeve on the product released for sale will be required to incorporate a small VPRC ‘button’ logo in black (or in white, if the background is dark), at least 8mm in height, on the back cover, close to the box containing the BBFC classification symbol and explanatory statement. However, this logo need not be present on the submitted packaging.