"Micro tobacco retailers demand withdrawal of 85 per cent warning regulation. They are facing a huge threat to their livelihood because of close down of the production by tobacco products by its manufactures due to sudden enforcement of regulation to enlarge graphic health warnings," Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said in a statement.
In September last year, the Health Ministry had issued a notification for implementation of the cigarettes and other tobacco products (Packaging and Labeling) Amendment Rules, 2014, which came into force April 1 this year.
"...More than 5 crore dependents on tobacco industry including small vendors, betel sellers, tea & cold drink vendors, and other people from lower strata whose livelihood is dependent upon selling of tobacco products as the tobacco manufacturers have stopped production since April 1 and these vendors are not getting supplies," CAIT National President B C Bhartia said at a conference held by Akhil Bhartiya Paan Vikreta Sangh.
"Rather than bringing regulations it is more important for the government to launch a mega consumer awareness campaign for discouraging use of tobacco and the CAIT will be happy to join hands with the government in any such initiative," the statement added.