Hold proposal to expand size of pictorial warning on cigarette

A parliamentary committee has "strongly" appealed to the government to keep on hold its proposal to increase the size of pictorial warnings on tobacco packets, citing likely "adverse impact" on the livelihood of people involved in the tobacco industry.
The Committee on Subordinate Legislations (2014-15), examining the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, said it had received a large number of representations expressing "serious" apprehensions from MPs as well as other stakeholders against the proposed notification.
"As the entire process including finding out the socio- economic ramifications of the notification and possible remedies is likely to take some more time..., the committee strongly urge the government that the implementation of the notification viz GSR 727-E dated October 15, 2014 may be kept in abeyance till the committee finalise the examination of the subject and arrive at appropriate conclusion and present an objective report to the Parliament," the committee said.

The notification regarding amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008 envisaged modification to increase the size of specified health warning from the current 40 per cent to 85 per cent of the principal display area of the package of tobacco products.
Further, the notification envisaged that every cigarette package or product shall contain the particulars like name, address of the manufacturer, origin, quantity, dates and others. The notification was scheduled to come into force from April this year.
"The committee is of the firm opinion that all such apprehensions are needed to be comprehensively examined before the amendment notification is brought into force from April 1, 2015," said the committee, headed by BJP MP Dilipkumar Mansukhhal Gandhi.

"The committee also feels that the socio-economic effect on the livelihood of the workers associated with the tobacco industry trespasses the domain of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and therefore, it would be imperative for them to seek views of other ministries especially the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.," it said.
The committee also said it is yet to hear the views of other stakeholders and experts.