The Union Health Ministry’s backtracking on larger pictorial health warnings on tobacco products has come under criticism, with anti-tobacco campaigners questioning the Union government’s commitment in bringing in legislations for tobacco control. Anti-Tobacco Forum (ATF), Mysuru, said tobacco control efforts in the country have taken two steps backwards with the government backtracking on its introduction of a rule to reserve 85 per cent of space on cigarette packs and other tobacco products for pictorial/graphical warnings. “It is childish to say that no study has been conducted in India to establish the relationship between tobacco consumption and cancer and that beedis are less harmful than cigarettes and non-smoke products. In that case, the Parliament should not have ratified the FCTC commitment that prescribed 80 per cent reduction of tobacco by 2020 in countries that have signed the protocol,” argued Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, convener, ATF.
He added, “Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda had himself on March 14 in Lok Sabha, quoted facts and figures from a survey report of an independent agency, while replying to a question on sale of tobacco products near educational institutions.”
Meanwhile, the Anti-Tobacco Forum has appealed to the Prime Minister to direct the Health Ministry to reconsider its decision and resubmit proposals to ensure that at least 65 per cent of space on packs are reserved for pictorial warnings.
It is childish to say no study has been conducted in India to establish relationship between tobacco consumption and cancer, or that beedis are less harmful than cigarettes.
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath
Convener, Anti-Tobacco Forum
