Cigarette packets to have pictorial warnings

NEW DELHI: A pictorial warning on tobacco products with the option of displaying skull and cross bones on its packets will soon be a reality.

This became clear with Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunshi revealing today that the Bill would be brought for consideration in the current session itself.

He told reporters that there was unanimity in the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha today for bringing the Bill for consideration during the current session without sending it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss while moving the Bill yesterday said, "taking into account the religious sentiments expressed by certain sections of society against the depiction of skull and cross bones, the pictorial warning of skull and cross bones on the packets of tobacco products may be made optional rather than mandatory."

The amendment was introduced in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) 2003 Bill, which was enacted mainly for taking effective steps to discourage the use of tobacco and tobacco products.

As per sub section (1) of section 7 of the said Act, no person shall, directly or indirectly produce, supply or distribute cigarette or any other tobacco products unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco product produced, supplied or distributed by him bears thereon, or on its label, the specified health warning.

Health warning, includes pictorial depiction of skull and cross bones and such other warning as may be prescribed by the rules made by the Central Government under the Act.