The Belgian parliament has approved a ban on all tobacco advertising as of January 1, 1999, and has rejected amendments allowing continued sponsorship of sports and cultural events.

The law, adopted by the Senate late on Thursday, toughens existing restrictions and goes beyond plans for EU-wide legislation, which will be decided on on December 4 by health ministers from the 15 European Union nations.

In a first reaction, stunned officials at the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix race track said they feared the law could kill the annual race at the Spa-Francorchamps race track.

Since 1982, Belgium has banned advertising for tobacco on television and radio, but loopholes allowed for ads to appear in magazines, newspapers and on advertising hoardings.

The new law will impose a blanket ban on all advertising except at shops selling tobacco goods.

Tobacco manufacturers will be prevented from sponsoring music festivals and sports evens as well. Furthermore they will have to close specialty shops selling clothes under the brand name of cigarettes.

Belgium's House of Representatives had overwhelmingly approved the bill earlier this year.

In the Senate, however, legislators proposed amendments to grant exemptions to events such as the hugely popular Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. Yet these were rejected 33-to-27, with 4 abstentions.

Annually, tobacco companies spend 850 million francs ($24.3m) on sponsoring cultural and sports events in Belgium.

A larger issue

In recent weeks, there has been heated debate regarding tobacco advertising throughout Europe.

Next Thursday, EU health minister are expected to vote on similar advertising and sponsorship bans. However, draft EU legislation will provide for an exemption for Formula One racing of up to 10 years.

In Britain, the Government has come under intense scrutiny after it exempted Formula One racing from the ban on tobacco advertising. It was later revealed that the Labour Party had accepted a £1m donation from Formula One owner, Bernie Ecclestone.

The European Commission has suggested that British ministers fell for a hollow threat by Formula One administrators to pull out of Europe if the ban was implemented.

A BBC correspondent in Brussels says the commission's statement is a sign of frustration that Britain risks undermining what it regards as the best chance for a number of years to ban tobacco advertising throughout the European Union.

The bill's sponsors hope that less advertising will reduce the number of smokers. Since the 1982 law took effect, the percentage of Belgians who smoke has declined from 40% to 30%.
 

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