Government In India Makes Firmer Graphic Warnings Compulsory For All Tobacco Products

The Indian government has notified that all inclusive graphic warnings are to be added to all types of tobacco products, including the smoking and smokeless ones. However, it is known that the government has set 1^st April 2013 as the cut-off date for this new implementation.

According to a notification released by the health ministry, a set containing three graphic warnings for smokeless and smoking forms of tobacco are to be highlighted on tobacco product packages. These pictorial images are likely to substitute the images already present on the packages of tobacco products.

Source: The Times of India, dated 23^rd October 2012

Original Source: PTI

Cigarette Packets Sold In India Are Lacking In Proper Graphic Warnings

According to a recent disclosure, a survey was conducted to find out pictorial warning size on cigarette packets sold in several countries as well as fulfilment of needs for graphic warnings on cigarette packets. However, as the review came to an end, it was strikingly revealed that India occupies123rd position among the 198 nations studied in the survey. The study results appeared in the “Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report” and this report was made public at a conference of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Thus the study report makes it evident that Indian ranks low among all countries participating in the survey. 

New sources reveal that graphic warnings are included in less than 40% of display area of cigarette packets sold in India. 

India has signed the FCTC treaty and international instructions under FCTC have made it mandatory for countries to incorporate large-sized pictorial warnings on cigarette packets. According to the FCTC guidelines, the graphic warnings are to be included on both front as well as back sides of cigarette packets and these packets should also have revolving pictorial warnings. 

Source: The Times of India, dated 16th November 2012