(a) whether the Government is discouraging tobacco cultivation in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has stopped issuing new licences in tobacco sector; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPEN- DENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) The Government regulates the production of FCV tobacco through the Tobacco Board which has been set up under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975. One of the important mandates of the Tobacco Board is to regulate the production through fixation of crop size for FCV tobacco.
(b) India is a signatory to WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) where by there is an obligation to implement the pro- visions of FCTC in India to reduce the consum- ption of tobacco. Further, appropriate supply management helps in ensuring remunerative prices to the growers.
(c & d) The Government has stopped issuing new industrial licenses for manufacturing of Cigarettes, Cigars, Cigarillos, Cheroots of tobacco and tobacco substitutes since 1999 on grounds of health.