BE: Legal Threat To Formula One

In Belgium a national court has ruled that it does not have the authority to block an imminent government ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, due to come into force on 1 January 1999. The proposed legislation was challenged by a collaboration of local government, retailers and Formula One grand prix motor race organisers in the area of Spa-Francorchamps, where the race is annually staged. They argued that the ban will breach EU rules on the free movement of goods and services; but the court held it was unable to act. The plaintiffs are now likely to seek a ruling in their favour from the Cour d’Arbitrage, Belgium’s highest court on legal and administrative matters.