Warning should cover 50%, not 85%, of tobacco pack: Lok Sabha panel report

The committee on subordinate legislation of the Lok Sabha in a finalised report suggests that 50 per cent of the total display area of tobacco packets should carry a warning. The report is expected to be tabled in Parliament provided the remaining members approves it. At present pictorial warnings on tobacco packets cover 40 per cent of the principal display area.

What The Panel Report says

  • The committee are of careful view that in order to have a balanced approach the warning on the cigarette packets should be 50% of the principal display area instead of 85% of the main display part as it will be too harsh and would result in flooding of illicit cigarettes across the country.
  • This might trigger a general perception that imported cigarettes are safer than Indian brands, which might in turn impact government revenues
  • For beedis, 50 per cent of only a single side of the pack should display the warning.
  • The final report mentions that the beedi industry had not been consulted in the drafting of the rules and its implementation would destroy the entire beedi industry.

Certain Facts about the Previous Report

  • It was the interim report of the same committee, submitted in March last year made the government set aside a notification originally issued in October 2014 mandating 85 per cent pictorial warnings on tobacco packets.
  • Following firm ressitance from the government the Rajasthan High Court directed the former to implement the notification.
  • The new date to impelement is scheduled  at April 1, 2016, just a year after the actual date of implementation.

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