New specified warnings on tobacco product packs

Amended rules applicable from September 1, says Union Health Ministry release

The Union Health Ministry has notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008, vide GSR 331(E) dated April 3, 2018, Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Second Amendment Rules, 2018.

The amended rules will be applicable with effect from September 1. The said notification, along with a printable version of warnings, is available on the Ministry’s website — www.mohfw.gov.in. Printable versions of the new warnings in all regional languages will soon be available on Ministry’s website.

“In view of the above, it is informed that before the new set of specified health warnings come into force from September 1, existing specified health warnings on tobacco product packs shall be continued till August, 31, 2018, as per amendment made in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008, vide GSR 283 (E) dated March 26, 2018,” noted a release issued by the Ministry.

One of the most important features of the new set of specified health warnings is inclusion of the Quitline telephone number “Quit Today Call 1800-11-2356”.

“This will help in creating awareness among tobacco users, and give them access to counselling services to effect behaviour change. It is also likely to lead to an increase in demand for tobacco cessation. Further, the same set of warning images shall be on both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco products,” it added.

The toll-free Tobacco Quitline Services provides counselling and strategies for quitting tobacco use. The recent second round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS -2, 2016-17), conducted in the age group 15 years and above, said that 61.9% of current cigarette smokers, 53.8% of current bidi smokers and 46.2% of current smokeless tobacco users thought about quitting because of warning labels on packets of cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco products.