Check sale of loose cigarettes to students: Pb health dept

The Punjab Health Department today instructed officers of departments concerned to check sale of loose cigarettes to students.
The directions were issued in a review meeting of the State Level Co-ordination Committee that was headed by Principal Secretary Health Anjali Bhawra, an official release said here.
During the meeting, she said focus would be on protecting children and youth from tobacco abuse, and strictly implement section six of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
Bhawra instructed all nodal officers from various departments to check the sale of loose cigarettes.
"COTPA under section seven also prohibits sale of tobacco products without health warnings," she said.

Bhawra said a united effort from all the departments is the need of the hour to completely eradicate the menace of tobacco and nicotine.

It is the responsibility of every stakeholder department and civil society to create awareness about the hazards of tobacco and nicotine, and implement the laws effectively, she said.
The officer said efforts will be made by the Excise and Taxation Department to raise the VAT on Bidi's and smokeless tobacco in order to bring it at par with cigarettes.
On the occasion, Director Health Services HS Bali said more than 300 villages in Punjab have been declared as tobacco free.

He said instructions have been given to all Food Safety Officers to take at least five samples of Pan Masala of different brands from various shops in their districts.