Don’t over-control tobacco sans local studies: panel chief

An Indian health ministry committee on subordinate legislation has recommended in its report that a medical panel should examine the health effects of tobacco on an Indian population before going ahead with the decision of mandating pictorial warnings covering 85 per cent of packaged tobacco products.

The ministry had in an October 2014 notification said the pictorial warnings of adverse health effects should cover 85 per cent of the packaging of tobacco products. This rule is supposed to come into effect from 1 April.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dilip Gandhi, who is the chairman of the committee, told The Indian Express, ''There are no studies in our own country that have examined the health effects of tobacco. Whether at all it actually causes cancer or other diseases is subject to a study in the country. That has never happened, and our stance towards tobacco products is mainly based on studies in a foreign setting.

''We have recommended that a medical board or at least an expert committee comprising doctors, scientists, et al should first do a study in India before we go ahead with such decisions.''

The report was sent to the health ministry two days ago, he added.

Many smokers may heartily agree with Gandhi's recommendations, though it may well send the ever-strengthening anti-tobacco lobby up in fumes.