(a) whether the Government proposes to set up first State-of-the-art laboratory
to test the percentage of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide in tobacco products;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) the time by which such lab is likely to start functioning; and
(d) the extent to which such laboratory will boost Government’s fight against
tobacco?
THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a) to (d)The Government is actively engaged in the process of building capacity
in the country for setting up Regional/Referral laboratory facilities for testing far
and nicotine content in all forms of tobacco products.Establishment of these labs
will facilitate the implementation of the provisions of ‘The Cigarettes and other
Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and
Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003’ under which Tar/
Nicotine contents of tobacco products alongwith maximum permissible levels
thereof are to be indicated on its label.