Tobacco products, cigarettes may be seized! Pictorial health warning mandatory
The mandatory rule of 85% pictorial health warnings on the tobacco products, that too on both sides of the tobacco packet, has been insisted on by the Centre, from the April 1st 2016. The Government departments have been instructed by the Union Health Ministry to implement the rule right away. The concerned authorities have the right to confiscate the tobacco packets without the pictorial warnings, said the officials. They will be seized before they reach the market.
For the effective implementation of these pictorial health warnings on tobacco products and cigarette packets, the Health Ministry has already been in touch with the department of labor, revenue, civil aviation, tourism, external affairs, and commerce. All the packets that will be leaving the factories for market sale purposes now need to be stamped with the new pictorial warnings. Nearly 85% of the display of the packet needs to be covered with the pictorial health warning, insisted the Ministry officials and this rule stands true for all the tobacco products supplied, distributed or produced in the Country.
KC Samria, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, has issued a letter stating “The date of implementation of these rules has been notified vide G.S.R 739 (E) dated 24th September, 2015 to be with effect from April 1, 2016. Effective implementation of the rules depends on concerted efforts of all the concerned Ministries and Departments of the government of India as well as State Governments.”
The letter confirmed “The new health warnings also apply to imported cigarettes and other tobacco products for sale in India. It is therefore necessary that the rules are brought to the notice of all Indian Missions abroad including Trade Associations and Federations of other countries, so that trade consignments destined for India are compliant with the rules.”
The ministry has asked for the instructions of the mandatory pictorial warning to be handed over to shipping lines, airlines, consolidators and freight forwarders because this is the only way to keep a check on the import consignments. In this way, tobacco consignments can be made to fall in with the law compulsion.
