Cigarette packs to warn more and advertise less from 1 April

From 1 April cigarette packs will warn more than advertise the brand. Though the parliamentary committee has recommendation a reduction in the size of pictorial warning, the government intends to make it mandatory for manufacturers to display pictorial warnings on 85 per cent of the space of cigarette packets from 1 April 2016, The Hindu reported.

According to Vishal Rao, oncologist and member of the Karnataka government's high power committee on tobacco control, there was only 40 per cent warning on one side at present, which meant 60 per cent of the space was given to advertisement and promotion on each side of the cigarette packet. He added, the packets needed to warn more than they advertised.

The decision had put at rest fears of medical experts and anti-tobacco activists that the report of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation, which recommended 50 per cent PWs on both sides of cigarettes packets, and on one side of beedi and smokeless tobacco packets would not dilute their efforts to reduce tobacco consumption among the public.

Meanwhile, Amal Pushp, director (tobacco) in the ministry of health and family welfare said that the ministry had issued a notification in February and the ministry would continue with it.

The health ministry had proposed the new rule, which specified that the health warning should cover at least 85 per cent of the display area of the packaging, in October 2014. The rule was however, strongly opposed by the tobacco lobby.