Dutch Non-Smokers Association CAN v. Netherlands

A public health organization (CAN) challenged a provision of the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act that permitted the establishment of smoking rooms in catering facilities. CAN argued that Article 8(2) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has direct effect and, therefore, this exception to the smoking ban should be considered non-binding because it conflicts with a higher law - the FCTC. The District Court ruled that FCTC Article 8(2) did not have direct effect and, therefore, could not be invoked in this case. CAN appealed this ruling.

On appeal, the Court concluded that FCTC Article 8(2) has direct effect and rejected the State's argument that the exception in the law is intended as a transitional measure. The Court stipulated that the FCTC Article 8 Guidelines "must be taken into account when interpreting Article 8 paragraph 2 of the WHO FCTC." Taking the Guidelines into account, the Court concluded that it is clear that separate smoking rooms "do not provide adequate protection against exposure to tobacco smoke" and, therefore, the exemption for smoking rooms in catering establishments is "contrary to Article 8(2) of the WHO FCTC."

Dutch Non-Smokers Association CAN (Club of Active Non-Smokers)/The State of the Netherlands (Department of Public Health, Welfare and Sport) [Hof][Hague Court of Appeal], 13 February 2018, Case Number: 200.205.667/01

  • Netherlands
  • Feb 13, 2018
  • Hague Court of Appeal
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Parties

Plaintiff Dutch Non-Smokers Association CAN (Club of Active Non-Smokers)

Defendant The State of the Netherlands (Department of Public Health, Welfare and Sport)

Legislation Cited

International/Regional Instruments Cited

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

None

Type of Tobacco Product

None

"It is clear from the aforementioned that the parties to the WHO FCTC have reached agreement ('consensus') on the way in which Article 8(2) must be interpreted and implemented if parties are to comply with their treaty obligations. The fact that parties have presented this agreement under the term 'Guidelines' and that the Guidelines are not in themselves legally binding or decisive for the interpretation of Article 8 paragraph 2 of the WHO FCTC, does not detract from the fact that these Guidelines must be taken into account when interpreting Article 8 paragraph 2 of the WHO FCTC..."