Date:07/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/07/stories/2005120703690800.htm

Back New packaging, labelling norms for tobacco products soon

Our Bureau

The indirect advertisements would also be prohibited.

New Delhi , Dec. 6

THE Health Ministry is planning to notify the new norms for labelling and packaging of tobacco products as part of its attempts to bring down tobacco consumption.

The packs would not only contain warnings of the ill-effects of tobacco, but also details of the nicotine and tar contents.

"Tobacco packaging will no more have innocuous looking messages but picturised and bold warnings as well as the percentage of the harmful contents such as nicotine and tar," said the Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, while inaugurating the fourth World Assembly on Tobacco Counters Health.

The Minister said that the medical expenditure on tobacco-linked health problems alone is about Rs 30,833 crore. Referring to a WHO study, Dr Ramadoss said that 76 per cent of Indian films influence the youth to take to smoking. He further said that smoking accounts for 50 lakh deaths around the globe every year. The WHO has indicated that by 2020, 70 per cent of deaths due to tobacco use, would be in the low-income and middle-income groups, among countries especially India and China.

Based on community surveys, eight to nine lakh deaths annually are caused due to tobacco use in India.

While 45 per cent smoked beedis, 40 per cent consumed tobacco and the remaining 5 to 10 per cent smoked cigarettes.

The Minister pointed out that India is a signatory to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, initiated by the WHO and the Government has enacted a Tobacco Control legislation prohibiting advertisements of tobacco products, smoking in public places and sale of such products to minors among others.

From January 1, 2006, it would also no longer be possible for any person, individual or character in cinema or TV programmes to display cigarettes and other tobacco products or their use, except for certain exemptions provided under the act.

The indirect advertisements would also be prohibited, which means that a brand name of tobacco product cannot be used for marketing, promotion or advertisement of any other goods, services and events, Dr Ramadoss said.