FPB warns Sexpo distributors

Johannesburg - Distributors of adult content at this year's Sexpo exhibition in Johannesburg must adhere to the laws governing the pornography industry, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) warned on Wednesday.

Adults using the material must also make sure that children were not able to access adult-only magazines and DVDs, chief executive officer Yoliswa Makhasi said in a statement.

The warning came after the East London Regional Court on Tuesday sentenced Paul Gama, an adult shop owner, to 32 months' imprisonment or to pay a fine of R25 000 for contravening the Films and Publications Act.

Gama was found guilty of distributing unclassified pornographic material, most of which failed to indicate the classification, age restriction and consumer advice on the outer cover as required by law.

Makhasi said FPB representatives would attend the four-day exhibition, although they did not want to "spoil anyone's fun".

"We're just making sure that all distributors adhere to the law governing such content and that adults become more aware of the extreme risk it poses to children," she said.

Compliance monitors of the FPB would be available at Sexpo to ensure that distributors and exhibitors complied with the law.

Makhasi said this was to ensure that they only distributed and sold material classified by the FPB as the legal authority responsible for classification.

The four-day Sexpo exhibition starts on Thursday at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.