Ministries split over size of warning on tobacco packs

Disagreement has surfaced within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over the size of pictorial warning on tobacco packs. While the health ministry wants the warning on all tobacco products to cover 85 per cent of the principal display area on both sides, the ministries of labour and commerce have opposed the move.

The differences have come out clearly in the latest parliamentary committee report on 'The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2014', which recommended that the warning must cover 50 per cent of one side of a pack. The panel said the health ministry's proposal was too harsh and might result in flooding of illicit cigarettes in the market.

The current rules - which came into force in 2008 - mandate a warning on 40 per cent display area on one side of a pack. "The committee observes that whereas it is a standard practice to undertake a consultation process with various stakeholders before carrying out any important policy decision, unfortunately the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not appear to have followed this practice while coming out with the amendment Rules of 2014," says the report.

According to the ministry of labour and employment, if the government implements warning on 85 per cent display area of tobacco products, it would have adverse effect on livelihood of millions of people. "The Ministry of Labour has, therefore, come to the conclusion that this issue requires detailed study," says the report.

WHAT MINISTRIES SAID

• The labour ministry said livelihood of millions of people involved in tobacco production and sale would be affected
• The commerce ministry said tobacco consumption had increased even after the 40% pictorial warning rule was imposed in 2008
• The agriculture ministry said no other crop was as remunerative as tobacco, and it was very difficult to persuade tobacco growers to switch to other cash crops
• The finance ministry said cigarette smuggling – through cargo, passenger baggage and courier modes - had increased considerably

Similarly, Rita Teaotia, secretary, ministry of commerce, told the committee that after the introduction of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packages in 2008-09, the consumption of domestic tobacco has not witnessed any decline. Consequently, the commerce ministry told the parliamentary panel that health ministry's step might lead to increase in the illicit trade of cigarettes, besides adversely affecting local growers and manufacturers of tobacco products. The health ministry is planning to impose the new rule from April 1, 2016.

"The recommendations of the committee are excessive and do not appear to have cognised for the devastating consequences of large warnings on the livelihood of millions that are dependent on the tobacco industry," said a spokesperson of Tobacco Institute of India. Agriculture ministry also pointed out that no single crop is as remunerative as tobacco and it is very difficult to persuade tobacco growers to switch to alternate cash crops.