68% tobacco firms comply with warning rule

​Hyderabad: A latest study on displaying the new pictorial health warnings on packages of tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, etc, has indicated that 68 per cent of popular brands sold across Telangana are displaying pictorial health warnings.

The study conducted by Andhra Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (APVHA) during June and July indicated that the companies of such products were displaying health warning, including graphics, covering 85 per cent of the package.

The APVHA said 30 per cent of the bidi packets were fully compliant with all the labelling requirements of the law and 34 per cent of the smokeless tobacco packs displayed a pictorial and text health warning label that covered 85 per cent of the principal display area on both sides of the pack.

The study also proved that the Government of India made the right decision and went ahead with its implementation despite resistance from the tobacco industry.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India, revealed that about 29.2 per cent population in the Telugu States uses tobacco products in one or the other form and amongst them 11.1 per cent are cigarette smokers, 6.8 per cent are bidi smokers and 15.1 per cent use smokeless tobacco.