The proposed amendment to the current law has received 17 amendments
Smoking areas reach the Senate
The Spanish Federation of Hospitality (FEHR) trusts that the Government will reconsider its decision to ban the consumption of tobacco in all premises. This prohibition would enter into force on June 2, 2011.
For the FEHR, the total ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces, intended by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, would have serious economic consequences for the hospitality sector. As a solution to these losses, at a time when the sector is already resentful of the economic crisis, the FEHR proposed in the Congress of Deputies the creation of "Smoking Zones", in what it considers the line of 24 of the 27 countries of the European Union. This initiative, which was defended by the Popular Party in Congress and rejected by the Health Commission, now passes to the Senate, where the deadline for the presentation of amendments is open.
A total of 17 amendments to the proposed law to amend the Tobacco Act have been tabled in the Senate. The PP again defends, as it did in Congress, the smoking areas requested by hoteliers, no more than 30 per 100 of the surface of the premises, without service and without access to minors. In addition, the FEHR again insists on the convenience of allowing establishments to condition their premises to comply with the Law in the new terms proposed, so a moratorium on the law is requested until July 1, 2011 for these premises.
The PP presented as an amendment in the Health Commission of the Congress the "Smoking Zones" defended by FEHR. This amendment was rejected, leaving the votes as follows: PP and Mixed Group voted in favor, which meant 17 votes compared to the 19 against PSOE and IU, while PNV and CIU expressed their abstention. At present, the bill is in the Senate, whose composition of votes is different from in Congress, so there is the possibility of supporting the position of hoteliers in this House, rejecting the text of the proposal. The text of the proposal will be debated on December 2 in the paper that was designated to study this issue on November 10. Then it will be debated in the Senate Health Committee, to be voted on in full in the week of December 13 to 17, the last week of the year in which plenary meetings are held. The document will then go to Congress for final review.
News added on 19-11-2010
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