Government accepts to ban loose cigarettes sale

The Government has accepted the proposal to prohibit the sale of loose or single stick of cigarette and also increase the minimum legal age for sale of tobacco products, as per reports.

The proposal mooted by an expert committee set up by the Health Ministry also recommended increasing the fine amounts for violations of provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, as well as making such offences cognizable.

However, the proposal is yet to be sent to the Cabinet for approval as the Health Ministry is still awaiting comments from other ministries.