Tobacco Lobby Blocks Move on Gory Warnings

Source from:  timesofindia.indiatimes.com Kounteya Sinha,TNN 30 Nov 2007 11/30/2007

There will be no gory pictoral warnings on tobacco packets from December 1. The government's move to have pictures of cancerous tumours on cigarette packs and other products to scare people away from smoking has been scuttled yet again by the tobacco lobby. Sources in the health ministry told TOI that in a major volte face, the group of ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has decided to take "a relook at the pictoral warnings". This was conveyed to the Shimla high court on Wednesday by the Union health ministry, which has asked for four months' time to implement its decision. Another petition has been filed by tobacco company Godfrey Philips in the Shimla high court seeking eight months' time to introduce the new labels. The court deferred both the hearings till December 13. Enditem