Dutch government says might sue tobacco industry (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Dutch government says might sue tobacco industry
Source: Reuters, Saturday, 12/18/99

AMSTERDAM, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is considering suing for
damages from the country's tobacco industry for smoking-related health
costs, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

``We've asked the government prosecutor to look into the matter and see if
there's any real chance of being successful,'' spokesman Benno Bruggink
told Reuters.

The government spends an estimated 6.5 billion guilders ($2.99 billion)
per year on health costs linked to smoking, but it was unclear what the
size of any government claim would be, he added.

The review by the prosecutor would be completed sometime next year.

About a third of the Dutch adult population smokes, a proportion that has
remained stable in recent years.

Dutch Health Minister Els Borst told the daily newspaper Trouw that in
environmental matters it had been established that polluters pay for
damages they caused.

``In health, we should also be able to do that,'' she said.

The Netherlands currently spends about seven million guilders per year on
anti-smoking campaigns, which Borst termed ``a pittance.''

To make a serious impact in that area, much more money was needed, a major
portion of which should come from the industry, she said.

Earlier this year a Dutch smoker sued the tobacco industry for damages
after contracting lung disease and then extended his claim to include the
Dutch state for not taking sufficient steps to inform the public about the
health hazards of smoking.

The Netherlands is Europe's third largest producer of tobacco products
after Germany and Britain, with most products destined for export. With a
small home market, it is currently ranked as the world's second largest
exporter after the United States.

Last year Dutch based manufacturers produced some 116 billion cigarettes
and 29 million kg of rolling tobacco.

Dutch based Rothmans International BV is owned by British American Tobacco
plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BATS.L) and Van Nelle, which makes
hand-rolled tobacco, is a unit of Britain's Imperial Tobacco Group plc
(quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: IMT.L). Philip Morris Companies Inc
(NYSE:MO - news) of the United States owns cigarette manufacturing
facilities in the country.

($1 equals 2.171 Guilder)