This first step was the most delicate and difficult part of the process, because of the initial opposition from the Ministers of economy and taxes, employment, industry and trade. Next week the bill will be discussed for approval by Parliament and will then need to be approved by the Senate. The Ministry of Health hopes to have it approved and published by autumn 2005, to take effect in January 2006.
It includes a total ban on advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco, a total smoking ban in workplaces, including public and private companies and a complete ban in all indoor premises. Smoking areas will be permitted only in social centres, bars and restaurants over 100 m², night-clubs, discos and other public venues for adults only, in airports, waiting or access premises of theatres, cinemas and other indoor entertainment venues. The bill also proposes to raise the minimum legal age for buying cigarettes to 18 and to make bolder health warnings on packets. Allocation of resources raised with sanctions will be devoted to tobacco control (prevention and treatment).
The approval of the law is facing strong opposition from the tobacco industry, the hospitality industry (bar-owners, cafes and restaurants), on the basis of: economic cost of adapting premises and infrastructures arguing the need to respond to the smokers’ demand, trade unions and the Spanish Employers Council (COE), and from the advertising sector.A conference is taking place in Madrid this week intended to provide more momentum to this important milestone, and is intended for the Spanish experts (and the media).
Agence France Presse, 22 April 2005
http://beta.news.yahoo.com |
