Warning on cigarette packets to be more pronounced

Bhopal. Now pictorial warning will have to be displayed more prominently on every packet of cigarette and tobacco. Government of India has sent detailed directives regarding this to all states on April 1. In this context, Commissioner Food Security and Drug Administration has informed all concerned about the new notification. Specially, responsibility of 6 departments has been fixed and they have been directed to ensure compliance of all relevant legal provisions. These include Commissioners of Revenue, Transport, Health and Industries departments and DGP.

Pictorial warning on tobacco products was made mandatory through “Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply & Distribution) Act, 2003. Now, it would be mandatory to display this warning on 85 percent space of the packet. Warning of smaller size than this will not be acceptable.

Officers of various departments have been authorized to ensure action on violation of sections 5 and 7 of the Act. Authorised officers will initiate action against guilty tobacco product manufacturer/seller under Section 7 of the Act read with Section 20 of IPC.