Stronger Warnings on Tobacco Sold in India

A new law with tougher graphic cautions on tobacco products went into effect April 1.

April 04, 2013

NEW DELHI, India – A new law mandates that all tobacco products must have severe pictorial warnings went into effect April 1, the Economic Times reports. The new Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Amendment rules states that all tobacco product packs must sport new graphic cautions.

The Ministry of Health approved three warnings for smoking products, as well as smokeless tobacco packages. However, many tobacco products still had the old pictorial warnings instead of the new, tougher ones.

The tobacco industry has asked the ministry for additional time to make the switch. The Health Ministry hasn’t stayed the ruling, but is considering the request. The new packaging has for the first time the words “Warning,” “Smoking kills,” and “Tobacco kills” in bold colors. The stronger pictures show diseased throats, mouths and lungs.

The warnings and pictures must cover at least 40% of the principle display area of the tobacco package. Meanwhile, Australia’s stringent plain packaging law enacted last year has already been shown to harm small retailers.

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