​Cigarettes consumption up in 2011-12: Govt

NEW DELHI: Cigarette consumption in the country increased in 2011-12 after declining in the previous year, Parliament was informed today.

Quoting available data, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that domestic consumption (total number of units sold) of cigarettes during 2010-11 stood at 1,11,487 million sticks, down 0.33 per cent, as compared to 1,11,860 million sticks in the previous year.

"However, the domestic consumption of cigarettes during the year 2011-12 was 1, 16,166 million sticks, showing an increase of 4.19 per cent as compared to the previous year," she said.

The Minister further said that there was no proposal to put a ban on production and export of tobacco products, including cigarettes.

Manufacturing of cigarettes and cigars using tobacco is subject to compulsory industrial licensing.

"No industrial licence has been granted for manufacture of cigarettes since 1999, on grounds of health," Purandeswari said.

She said several steps have been taken to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in the country.

The government has enacted 'Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003' to discourage consumption of tobacco products.

The 'Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions of Sales) Regulations, 2011' lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.