ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a): As per information received from the Tobacco Board-Department of Commerce, details regarding production and consumption (domestic sales) of cigarettes in the country during the last three years are at Annexure 1; details regarding estimated number of farmers and workers engaged in tobacco farming and industry in the country are at Annexure 2; and details regarding number of FCV Tobacco Growers registered with the Tobacco Board in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are at Annexure-3.
The information regarding production and consumption of other tobacco products i.e., chewing tobacco, beedis, and khaini is not available with this Ministry.
(b): As per information received from the Department of Revenue, there is no such proposal currently under consideration of the Government.
(c) & (d): As per information received from the Anti-Smuggling Unit of Department of Revenue, the Department has detected several cases of smuggling of foreign cigarettes in the country. The details of Cigarettes of foreign brands seized during the last three years and current year are at Annexure-4.
In this regard, the field formations including Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have been sensitized and alerted to keep a strict vigil so as to prevent/check smuggling of foreign brand of cigarettes in the country.
(e): The Government has taken a series of measures to deter people from consuming various tobacco products, including imported cigarettes:
I. Enactment of the “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003”.
II. Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
III. Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the objectives to (a) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (b) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (c) ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco laws and (d) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.
IV. Notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes.
V. Notification of rules on new pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages.
VI. Launch of public awareness campaigns through a variety of media.
Annexure 1
Details regarding production and consumption (domestic sales) of cigarettes in the country during the last three years
(Quantity in crore pieces)
Year Production Consumption
2012-13 11701.49 10322.46
2013-14 11010.11 10178.49
2014-15 10526.89 9322.85
Annexure 2
Details regarding estimated number of farmers and workers engaged in tobacco farming and industry in the country
Sector Number in Lakhs Source
Farmers 60.00 22nd Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation (10th Lok Sabha)
Farm Labour 200.00
Bidi Workers 48.00 Reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 979 on 01/03/2006
Tendu Leaf Pluckers 22.00 Government of Madhya Pradesh
Traders/Retailers 50.00 ORC-MARTG Research Data
Total 380.00
Annexure-3
Details regarding number of FCV Tobacco Growers registered with the Tobacco Board in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Crop Season Growers
Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Total
2012-13 47415 42289 89704
2013-14 47247 42263 89510
2014-15 45962 42362 88324
2015-16
(as on 30/11/2015) 45053 42366 87419
Annexure-4
Details of Cigarettes of foreign brands seized during the last three years and current year
Year Cigarettes of foreign brands seized (in thousands)
2012-13 51768.88
2013-14 26435.92
2014-15 114330.00
2015-16 to date 55890.06
Total 248424.86
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