Singapore legislation
Section 24
Section 24
Appeal against classification decisions
(1)
In this section and section 24A, “appealable classification decision” means a decision by the Authority —
refusing to classify or re-classify a film under section 15 because —
it is against national security; or
of any other ground in section 16;
classifying or re-classifying a film under section 15;
determining the consumer advice to apply to a film under section 15;
imposing conditions under section 18 —
about the display of the classification ratings, markings and consumer advice (if any), on any advertisement for the film or on the container, wrapping, casing, box or other thing in or with which the film is to be distributed; or
relating to the circumstances of distribution or public exhibition of a film to which any classification certificate relates;
revoking the classification for a film under section 17(2); or
disapproving, or revoking the approval of, an advertisement for a film under section 22A, or imposing conditions on such an approval.
(2)
Any of the following persons who is aggrieved by an appealable classification decision relating to a film (each called an appellant) may appeal against the decision:
the person who applied for classification or re‑classification of a film;
the person who is the maker of a classified film if the applicant under section 14 for classification or re‑classification of the film is not the maker;
the person who intends to distribute or publicly exhibit a film if the applicant under section 14 for classification or re‑classification of the film is not that person;
the film content assessor whose classification for a film is revoked under section 15(2).
(3)
For an appealable classification decision described in subsection (1)(f), an applicant for approval of an advertisement for a film under section 22A who is aggrieved by the decision relating to that advertisement (also called an appellant) may appeal against the decision.
(4)
An appeal against an appealable classification decision described in subsection (1)(a)(i) may only be made —
to the Minister; and
within 30 days after the applicant is notified of that decision (called the first appeal period) or any longer period that the Minister allows in exceptional circumstances before the end of the first appeal period.
(5)
An appeal against any other appealable classification decision described in subsection (1) may only be made —
to the Committee of Appeal; and
within —
30 days after the applicant is notified of an appealable classification decision (called the first appeal period) or such longer period as the Committee of Appeal allows in exceptional circumstances before the end of the first appeal period; or
for an appellant who is a film content assessor, 30 days after the notice of the film’s re-classification is first published pursuant to section 15B(2)(b) (called the first appeal period) or any longer period that the Committee of Appeal allows in exceptional circumstances before the end of the first appeal period.
(6)
Every appeal under this section must be made in the manner prescribed or, if not prescribed, in the manner required by the Minister or the Committee of Appeal, as the case may be.
(7)
An appealable classification decision takes effect despite any appeal against the decision and remains in effect until the decision is varied or reversed on appeal.