Dison is the first municipality in Belgium to ban smoking in its city center

Since December 31, 2024, tobacco legislation has become more severe in Belgium. It is therefore prohibited to smoke or vape on playgrounds, sports fields, in zoos and amusement parks. Smoking is now also prohibited within a 10 meter radius of entrances and exits to educational and healthcare institutions.

By completely banning smoking in the center of Dison, the Verviers municipality is going a little further. The question nevertheless arises as to whether the mayor has the right to completely ban smoking, or even to sanction offenders.

The Association of Cities and Municipalities of Flanders (VVSG) believes not. “We understand very well that the mayor wants to extend the smoking ban to the entire city center of her municipality,” indicates Nathalie Debast of the VVSG. “Flemish towns and municipalities also want to play a role in banning smoking, out of concern for the health of their citizens.”

“But currently, it does not seem obvious to us from a legal point of view to sanction people who do not adhere to this ban. It is federal legislation which stipulates where one has the right to smoke and or not. municipalities and cities cannot deviate from it.

This is why the VVSG asked Federal Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke to give local administrations more freedom than the 10 meter smoke-free radius which must be maintained around schools, nurseries, rest homes and care , notably. A perimeter where smoking is prohibited is not sufficient in certain cases, and it is local administrations who can best evaluate it, believes Nathalie Debast.