Fewer smoking checks at bars

24 August 2007

BRUSSELS – “There haven’t been any inspections for compliance with the smoking ban at cafes and bars since we have a caretaker government in place,” says Bert Van Rooy, catering industry specialist of the Flemish Liberals (Open VLD) and himself the owner of a catering establishment in Antwerp.

“The effects are visible already. Ash trays and smokers are popping up in catering establishments once again.” Inge Jooris, spokesperson for the Federal Agency for Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV), says the number of inspections has “decreased substantially. These days our inspectors check 750 locations a month.”

A huge difference from the first three months of this year, when the FAVV checked 11,000 catering establishments and 191 violations were found. “We just issue a warning most of the time now,” Jooris says.

Subject: Belgian news