Question : Criteria for Tobacco Products

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has fixed any criteria and limit for various ingredients in cigarettes, pan masala, gutka and other tobacco products being marketed in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of complaints with regard to violation of aforesaid criteria/limit received by the Government and the offenders penalized during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to discourage smoking and consumption of tobacco products in the country;

(d) whether the Government proposes to impose complete ban on smoking and consumption of tobacco in any form and has consulted the State/UT Governments for the purpose; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a): This Ministry has not fixed any criteria and limit for various ingredients in cigarettes.

Under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, regulation 2.11.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 prescribes the standards for pan masala as under:

Pan Masala means the food generally taken as such or in conjunction with Pan, it may contain:—
Betelnut, lime, coconut, catechu, saffron, cardamom, dry fruits, mulethi, sabnermusa, other aromatic herbs and spices, sugar, glycerine, glucose, permitted natural colours, menthol and non-prohibited flavours. It shall be free from added coaltar colouring matter and any other ingredient injurious to health.
It shall also conform to the following standards namely:—
• Total ash: not more than 8.0 per cent by weight (on dry basis)
• Ash insoluble in dilute HCl acid: not more than 0.5 per cent by weight (on dry basis)

Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011 prohibits use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products.

(b): No separate data is being maintained centrally by FSSAI with regard to these violations.

(c): 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.

(d) & (e): Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 lay down as under:

“Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products”

So far, 34 States/Union Territories have issued orders for implementation of the above Food Safety Regulations banning manufacture, sale and storage of Gutkha and Pan Masala containing tobacco or nicotine. Further, 12 States/Union Territories have banned chewing tobacco such as zarda, khaini and other flavoured and processed chewing tobacco.