Dehaene seeks to relax tobacco advertising ban

(19-Oct-98) - Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene has said he is
discussing ways of relaxing the total ban on all tobacco advertising in
Belgium, a new law which comes into effect on January 1st.

If the new restriction is implemented, Belgium's law would be tougher than
that of the European Union, which, Dehaene told Belgian television, was
pointless.

"We should not try to be more Catholic than the Pope," he said.

Initially when Belgium passed the law, Bernie Ecclestone threatened to
cancel the Spa-Francorchamps race because the new regulation would not
allow any tobacco advertising and sponsorship. Conversely the EU law would
allow major international events such as F1 and world snooker championships
to continue receiving cigarette companies' backing until October 2006.

At present the Spa race is scheduled to go ahead regardless of the new law,
but Dehaene is currently in talks with Belgium's Flemish Socialist party.

"There are talks going on, but they are only just starting. It is too
early to talk about it," he said.

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