China has no plan to start rating audio and video products, a senior official of the country's top press and media watchdog said yesterday, a Beijing newspaper reported today.

The country will not rate audio and video products until a mature market control system is in place, the New Express Daily said, citing Liu Binjie, director of the General Administration of Press and Publication.

Liu made the remarks while attending the annual session of the country's top political advisory body that convened in Beijing.

A ratings system means that pornographic videos would be classified at a certain grade and be admitted to the market. These products will flood the market without a well-rounded control system, Liu added.

The administration issued a circular last month, banning the sales of horror audio and video products in the latest initiative to "protect the psychological development of children and teenagers," according to a previous Xinhua report.

The circular ordered all publications with elements of mystery and horror to be taken off the market. Videos in production were told to delete any hint of mystery and horror.

After the circular was released, a proposal was made for a ratings system.

A ratings system can meet the requirements of adult audiences as well as help parents protect children, a Xinhua report said, citing Tian Siyuan, a professor of law from Tsinghua University.

The administration began research on a ratings system for audio and video products in June, the New Express report added.

(Shanghai Daily March 4, 2008)