New set of warnings on tobacco products notified

To be applicable with effect from Sept 1

The Union Health Ministry issued pictorial warnings highlighting the ill-effects of tobacco consumption.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified a new set of specified health warnings for all tobacco products — manufactured or imported or packaged on or after September 1 — to be displayed on the packets.

The images, details of the specified health warnings and the rules are available at www.mohfw.gov.in .

Punishable offence

“Any person engaged directly or indirectly in the production, supply, import or distribution of cigarettes or any tobacco products shall ensure that all tobacco product packages shall have the specified health warnings exactly as prescribed. Violation of the above mentioned provision is a punishable offence with imprisonment or fine as prescribed in Section 20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products [Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution] Act, 2003,” noted a release issued by the Ministry.

The new set of specified health warning for all tobacco product packs has been brought in by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 vide GSR 331(E) dated April 3, 2018, “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products [Packaging and Labelling] Second Amendment Rules, 2018”.

The amended rules will be applicable with effect from September 1, 2018.