According to Union Health Ministry, a new display image, with a warning written as “Tobacco causes painful death” will be printed on tobacco products manufactured, imported, or packaged on or after December 1, 2022. Existing specified health warning will continue till November 30, 2022.
About the New Health Warning:
- The norm related to the new display image on tobacco packs will be in place for period of one year, starting from December 1, 2022.
- From December 1, 2023, another display image will be used with warning written as “tobacco users die younger”.
- Ministry has made new amendments to Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008. These amendments were notified on July 21, 2022.
- Person engaged in manufacture, production, import, supply, or distribution of any tobacco products, directly or indirectly, have been mandated to ensure that all tobacco product packages have specified health warnings.
Violation of the new health guidelines will attract imprisonment or fine in accordance with Section 20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.
Tobacco Use in India:
As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-2017, prevalence of tobacco smoking is lowest in Maharashtra, among states in India. More than, 91% of smokers in India believe that smoking results serious illness. In India, 10.7% of the adults smoke tobacco while, 28.6% adults use tobacco either in smoke or smokeless form. According to Tobacco Free Union, tobacco-related diseases in India is responsible for death of more than 1 million people every year.