Govt proposes ban on sale of loose cigarettes

The govt also proposes to raise the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years

Brushing aside opposition, the Centre on Tuesday moved to amend the anti-smoking law and proposed radical changes, including a ban on sale of loose cigarettes and raising the minimum age of a person buying tobacco products to 21 years from the existing 18.

It has also proposed raising of the fine to Rs 1,000 from Rs 200 on smoking in public places, and recommended removal of designated smoking zones in hotels and restaurants.

These are some of the major recommendations in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Amendment) Bill 2015, put out by the health ministry on Tuesday to seek suggestions from the public.

The Bill puts to rest speculation about the fate of a panel's recommendations, which had covered most of these issues, as there were reports that the health ministry had developed cold feet following outcry from lobbies representing farmers and tobacco industry.

Health Minister J P Nadda had told the Rajya Sabha during the winter session of Parliament that his ministry had accepted the recommendations of the committee formed to review the existing Act, and a draft note for the Cabinet was circulated for inter-ministerial consultation.

Seeking to make violation of the proposed law much more stringent than the existing Act, the draft bill increases the maximum fine to Rs 1 lakh from the existing Rs 10,000.

“No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit sale of, cigarettes or any other tobacco products loose or in single sticks...to any person who is under 21 years of age; employ, engage or use any person who is under 18 years of age in cultivation, processing, sale of tobacco or tobacco products,” according to the proposed Bill.

While increasing the minimum legal age for sale of tobacco products to 21 years, the Bill also proposes to increase it later to 23 years and then to 25 in two phases after studying impact of the new provisions. “It will ensure protection of the future generation from the hazards of tobacco products.” The Bill also proposes special session courts for the trial of offences under it.

It will increase reporting of violation, filing of complaints, expedite trial of offences and ensure effective implementation of the law, it says.

“The said amendment Bill along with the notes on clauses is placed in public domain as part of pre-legislative consultations with a view to eliciting the comments/views of the stakeholders, including the general public,” the ministry said.

Doing away with designated smoking places in hotels and restaurants, the amendment Bill says these “undermined the very objective of the Act”, to protect non-smoker from involuntary smoke.