Chinese censors have banned producers of erotic movies and from competing for any film awards.

The ban, recently issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), also prohibits directors and leading actors from taking part in such any awards, the Beijing News reported on Monday.

"The heaviest punishment for such violation would lead to a five-year ban of perpetrators from the movie industry," the newly-issued ordinance was quoted by the newspaper.

The SARFT asked nationwide studios not to produce films with footage of hardcore activities, rape, whoring, obscene sex exposing human genitals, or sex freaks, the newspaper said. Vulgar conversations, nasty songs and sound effects with sexual connotation were also restricted.

The SARFT warned all major studios and local regulators to "bear their own responsibility in correcting the wrong deeds of producing erotic movies. Violating studios might face the harshest punishment of revoking permits for shooting films", the newspaper said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)