Larger pictorial warnings on tobacco products from today

The notification implementing larger pictorial warnings on all tobacco products will come into effect from Friday. The move comes despite a parliamentary panel's recommendation for a drastic reduction in the size of the visual message.

The Health Ministry's notification of September 24, 2015, for implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2014, come into force today. These prescribe larger pictorial warnings on tobacco products.

The ministry had made a commitment to Rajasthan High Court on March 28 that it will implement the said rules from April 1, 2016.

The Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation had described as "too harsh" the government's proposal that 85 per cent of the packaging surface carry pictorial warnings and recommended that the message occupy 50 per cent of the space.

The stand had evoked sharp criticism from lawmakers and health experts.
In its report submitted to the Lok Sabha, committee chairman Dilip Gandhi justified the recommendations, saying it was urged that the size of the warnings be increased from the present 40 to 50 per cent.

"The committee is of the view that in order to have a balanced approach, the warning on cigarette packets should be 50 per cent on both sides of the principal display area instead of 85 per cent of the principal display area as it will be too harsh and result in the flooding of illicit cigarettes in the country," the committee said in the report.

Health ministry has also informed Rajasthan High Court that its legislative authority is examining the observations/ recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation.

A senior official confirmed that all tobacco products manufactured from today onwards will carry larger pictorial health warnings as the rules framed by the ministry have come into effect.