APRIL 5, 2003

Tobacco wrangles at Interlagos

The question of tobacco advertising in Brazil has been bubbling away all weekend in Brazil with the Brazilian government enacting a provisional law on Thursday to alter the tobacco ban which recently came into force. The law was adopted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and means that until July 31, 2005 the law will not be applied to "international sportive events which are not held in one single country and which are organized or promoted by foreign institutions". This has been agreed on condition that during the broadcast of the events warning messages about smoking will be flashed up on the screen.

On Saturday morning we heard that there might be a legal challenge to the provisional law but when the cars went out for the first practice session all were in full tobacco branding.

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