Page 4 - Tobacco

No amount of alcohol 'safe', even low consumption hikes cancer risk: WHO

The agency has previously found that alcohol causes at least 7 types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer

Govt okays Rs 28 cr to extend interest-free loan to tobacco farmers in AP

The government on Wednesday said it has approved Rs 28.11 crore to extend the interest-free loan to tobacco farmers of Andhra Pradesh. This measure will help the FCV (Flue Cured Virginia) tobacco farmers overcome the damage caused by Mandous Cyclonic rains, the commerce ministry said in a statement. The interest-free loan to the eligible farmers will be administered by the Tobacco Board, it added. "Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, has accorded approval for Rs 28.11 crore to extend a special interest-free loan @ of Rs 10,000 to each member of Tobacco Board's Growers' Welfare Schemes under Southern Regions (Southern Light Soil and Southern Black Soil) of Andhra Pradesh from the Tobacco Growers' Welfare Fund, which will directly benefit 28,112 farmers," it said. FCV tobacco is a major commercial crop grown in 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, with an annual production of 121 million kg (2021-22) grown in an area of 66,000 hectares. It is the major exportable tobacco vari

Economists urge hike in tobacco tax for reaching PM's $5 trn economy vision

A substantial hike in tax on all tobacco items and stronger laws will not only bring the best out of human capital by ensuring better health of citizens, but also help in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a five trillion dollar economy by 2025, experts have asserted. Noting that the health care burden due to tobacco consumption in India is around 1.04 per cent of GDP, pushing many into poverty, Arvind Mohan, Professor and Head, Department of Economics, University of Lucknow said a substantial increase in tax on these lethal items will close the gap. Speaking at a webinar, he echoed views of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as many other international bodies like World Bank that tobacco taxation is an efficient tool, reducing tobacco consumption faster than any other single measure. Mohan explained that presently, health is a big challenge for human development as at least 70 per cent of the health expenditure is being met by the public themselves, while .

Rise in cigarette taxes, first EU-wide vaping levy on the cards

The changes to legislation, part of a push by Brussels to cut smoking rates, will increase the EU's minimum excise duty on cigarettes from 1.80 euros to 3.60 euros per pack of 20

Marijuana, vaping may be as harmful to heart as cigarettes, says study

E-cigarettes and marijuana may have harmful effects on the heart similar to those caused by tobacco cigarettes, opening the door to abnormal heart rhythms, according to a study conducted in mice. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products have become popular because the public perceives them as being less harmful than smoking, the researchers said. Similarly, legal recreational marijuana has become more common in recent years, and is also frequently viewed by the public as being safer than smoking tobacco, they said. "We found that cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and marijuana greatly interfere with the electrical activity, structure, and neural regulation of the heart," said study lead author Huiliang Qiu, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the US. "Often, any single change can lead to arrhythmia disease. Unfortunately, these adverse effects on the heart are quite comprehensive," Qiu said. The study, published in the journal Heart Rhythm, expo

Nicotine in 1 cigarette stops women's brains from producing estrogen: Study

This may explain a variety of behavioural differences in smokers, including the reason why women have a higher resistance to quitting than males.

Both CGST and excise duty can be imposed on tobacco products: Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the Union government is entitled to levy Central GST (CGST) as well as excise duty on tobacco and tobacco-derived products. It dismissed a bunch of petitions by tobacco manufacturers who had challenged the same. "The levy of excise duty on tobacco and tobacco products is a matter of public policy and this court in exercise of writ jurisdiction would not interfere with the same. The CGST itself contemplates levy of excise duty upon tobacco and tobacco products apart from they being taxed under the provisions of CGST," Justice M I Arun said in the recent judgment. The Dharwad bench of the HC heard petitions by Ghodawat Packers LLP, H I Tamboli and Sons, Rajnandini Foods Pvt Ltd, Balajee Pouches, Ghodawat Foods International Limited and Ghodawat Industries India Private Limited, against the Ministry of Finance, Union of India and Joint Commissioner of CGST and Central Excise. The Joint Commissioner on March 25, 2021 issued an order imposing exci

Centre issues new set of health warnings for tobacco products packs

The government notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008

E-cigarettes, flavored tobacco worth Rs 14.6 lakh seized in Mumbai; 11 held

The Mumbai Police on Friday seized electronic cigarettes and flavored tobacco worth over Rs 14.60 lakh after raiding 12 places in the city and its suburbs, and arrested 11 persons, an official said. The action was carried out by the Crime Branch control of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), he said. As many as 11 persons were arrested in connection with the case, he said, adding a probe was underway. "Considering that the youth in Mumbai are consuming electronic cigarettes which are harmful to their health, the CB control of the EOW Branch raided 12 places & seized e-cigarettes worth Rs 14,60,420 and registered a case against them," the Mumbai Police tweeted.

Indians reluctant to stub it out with 186 million tobacco users

With over 186 million tobacco users in India, two in every three people who chew dry snuff tobacco the world over are Indians

ITC up 30% in 2022: Will Godfrey Phillips, NTC, Golden Tobacco follow suit?

Charts reveal that ITC seems poised for another 15 per cent rally; Similarly, Godfrey Phillips has seen a "Golden Cross" and looks promising while others are seen testing historic support levels.

WHO raises alarm on tobacco industry environmental impact, human health

WHO revealed new information on the extent to which tobacco damages both the environment and human health, calling for steps to make the industry more accountable for the destruction it is causing

Ban greenwashing activities of tobacco industry to appear nature friendly

The governments and the public around the world should be aware that greenwashing by the tobacco industry is increasing and needs to be countered: WHO

Karnataka High Court backs simultaneous levy of excise duty, GST on tobacco

A two-judge bench, comprising justice Alok Aradhe and justice S Vishwajith Shetty, basically upheld the earlier order by a single bench of the court in this regard

'Tobacco not sole cause of cancer': Rajasthan Minister Parsadi Lal Meena

Rajasthan health minister Parsadi Lal Meena said tobacco is not the only reason behind cancer because there are people who consume tobacco or smoke but do not get cancer.

Public health groups, docs urge govt to hike tobacco products' excise duty

In their appeals to the Finance Ministry, they have sought an increase in excise duty on cigarettes, bidis and smokeless tobacco

TMS, Ep 25: India's GDP growth, surrogate ads, FMCG stocks, and metaverse

How can India build high GDP growth momentum? What do surrogate ads beat Indian laws? Will rising input costs and falling rural sales derail FMCG stocks? What's metaverse? Get all the answers here

Haryana extends ban on gutkha, pan masala till September 2022

Haryana government on Monday extended the ban on the sale and manufacture of gutkha and pan masala for one year.The state Food and Drugs Administration has issued a notification in this regard, under which the sale and purchase of tobacco products have been prohibited for a year from Sept 7, 2021.The order has been issued to all the district magistrates and superintendent of police, food inspectors and others.Last year, in view of the COVID pandemic, the Haryana government banned the sale of tobacco products like paan masala, gutkha etc for one year so that people do not spit in public places.The state government on Monday decided to extend the ban by one more year. Now, the sale of tobacco and nicotine products like pan masala and gutkha in Haryana will be considered illegal till September 2022. The order said the legal action will be taken against those who violate the rule.

Indian Tobacco Association urges govt to extend RoDTEP benefits to tobacco

Indian Tobacco Association on Thursday said it has urged the government to include tobacco under the tax rebate scheme RoDTEP with an aim to encourage exports from the sector

One-fifth of students aged 13-15 used some sort of tobacco product: Survey

Nearly one-fifth of the students aged 13-15 years used some form of a tobacco product in their lives but the use has declined by 42 per cent during 2009-2019, according to a survey report