THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (c): Taking note of various studies including World Health Organization
(WHO) and the article in British Medical Journal (Tobacco Control) regarding the
effect of direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco on youth, Government is
taking steps to reduce the exposure of adolescents from direct and indirect
advertisements.
In order to protect the youth from the misleading advertisement of tobacco
products, the Government of India has already enacted “the Cigarettes and Other
Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce,
Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA), 2003. Section-5 of this Act
prohibits all direct or indirect advertisements, promotion and sponsorship of all
tobacco products.
In order to give effect to Section 5 of COTPA, 2003, and regulate the
depiction of smoking scene in films and TV programme, this Ministry notified “the
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation
of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules, 2006
in consultation with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 20-10-2006. These
Rules have not come into effect as the matter is sub-judice in the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Further, a notification dated 27th February, 2009 issued by Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, allows
“Genuine Brand Extension†of tobacco products. These Rules are not operational as
it has been strongly opposed by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
(d): As per Tobacco Control Report in India, 2004, the estimated tobacco
attributable toll will rise from 1.4 percent in 1990 to 13.3 percent in 2020.
(e) Government of India enacted “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
(Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production,
Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003†(COTPA) to protect citizens, with special
attention to risk groups such as pregnant women and children, and to discourage
consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The salient features of
the Act are as under:-
i. Ban on smoking in public places. (Section -4)
ii. Ban on direct/indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco
products. (Section -5)
iii. Ban on sale of tobacco products to children below 18 years & ban on sale
of tobacco products within 100 yards of the educational institution.(Section– 6)
iv. Mandatory display of Specified health warnings on all tobacco products.
(Section - 7)
The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in 2007-08
with the objective of enforcing the provisions under COTPA, 2003, creating
awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and as an obligation to FCTC.
Presently, the NTCP is under implementation in 42 districts of 21 States. The
programme broadly envisages-
National level
i. National level public awareness/mass media campaigns for awareness
building & for behavioural change through various medium.
ii. Establishment of tobacco product testing laboratories, to build
regulatory capacity, as required under COTPA, 2003.
iii. Mainstreaming the program components as a part of the health delivery
mechanism under the NRHM framework.
iv. Mainstream Research & Training – on alternate crops and livelihoods
with other nodal Ministries.
v. Monitoring and Evaluation including surveillance e.g. Adult Tobacco Survey.
State level
i. Dedicated tobacco control cells for effective implementation and monitoring
of Anti Tobacco Initiatives.
District level
i. Training of health and social workers, NGOs, school teachers etc.
ii. Local IEC activities.
iii. School programme
iv. Setting up tobacco cessation centres
v. Monitoring of tobacco control Act.
