Punjab forms Committee for implementation of Tobacco Control Act

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government has constituted an Empowered Committee to carry forward its crusade against tobacco and ensure implementation of Tobacco Control Act across the state.

The high powered committee would mainly focus on implementation of Section 5.3 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) across the state, Principal Secretary Health, Vini Mahajan said today.

Explaining the Section 5.3 of WHO FCTC she said that it states that "in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law".

The Committee headed by Principal Secretary Health Vini Mahajan will also have Principal Secretary Home, Financial Commissioner, Taxation Secretary Health and FDA Commissioner as designated special officer. Director of Information and Public Relations, as member and Director Health and Family Welfare would be the Member Secretary.

Whenever any move was made by the state or Central government to implement COTPA/FSSAI (ban on flavored chewing tobacco/E-Cigarettes) under Drugs and Cosmetics act, the Tobacco Industry (TI) tried to scuttle the process by sending representations or by using their clout, Mahajan said.

Implementation of pictorial warning on 85 per cent area of both sides of packets of tobacco products has been delayed allegedly because of this, she said adding in Punjab increased VAT is not applicable to all tobacco products like Bidis.

India is a signatory to WHO FCTC treaty so the Government of India and all state governments are legally bound to implement all its provisions including section 5.3 (Dealing with Tobacco Industry Interference), said Mahajan.