Civil society in favour of bigger warning display on tobacco

Among the civil society groups and institutions that have sent representations to the Centre over health issues, nearly 80 per cent have expressed support in favour of bigger pictorial warnings on tobacco products, government today said.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said, out of 39 representations received from various quarters, 26 have extended their support for the implementation of of the new health warnings while five have expressed concern about the 'beedi' industry.
The implementation of these rules was kept in abeyance by the health ministry through a corrigendum issued in March this year, merely a few days before April 1 when the rule was supposed to come into effect.

"As per the recommendations of the interim report submitted by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation, the implementation of the rules related to implementation of the pictorial health warnings covering 85 per cent display area of tobacco products packages has been kept in abeyance till the Committee finalises the examination of the subject and arrives at appropriate conclusions and present report to the Parliament," the minister said.