American Expatriate Costa Rica

A bill aims to prohibits violent videogames, toys and warlike clothing

The Economic Committee from the Congress affirmatively ruled a bill prohibiting the manufacture, importation, sale, marketing, distribution and advertisement of violent toys.

The initiative, proposed by legislator Gonzalo Ramírez, received 7 votes in favor and 2 against from Natalia Díaz, from Movimiento Libertario, and Nidia Jiménez, from Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC).

The bill also prohibits the manufacture and sale of war clothing or military-green camouflage and coffee clothing, except the one used by the Public Security Forces and the Judiciary.

The initiative also proposes that video games with war, military or violent content cannot be sold to minors, but they should also have a warning about their harmful effects. This should occupy less than 75% of the presentation of its package.

The proposal imposes the following regulations fines:

-For manufacturing, importing, selling, distributing, marketing and advertising warlike toys or using bellicose military attire: ¢ 1.2 million.

-If the person does it repeatedly, he or she may be out of business.

-A person would have to pay ¢ 1.2 million for selling war, military or violent-content videogames to minors. If repeated, the person would close the business.

-For the sale of military clothing to minors, the person would have to pay a fine of up to ¢ 2 million.

The initiative does not regulate Internet sales and digital downloads.

crhoy.com