India To Ban Sale Of Unpackaged Cigarette

Source from:  InSerbia 12/02/2014

Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has assured the Parliament that the Narendra Modi government will impose a ban on the sale of loose cigarettes in the coming days. He informed the House that the government accepted the UN's proposal in this regard.

A 2013 World Health Organisation (WHO) report suggests that curbing smoking needs simultaneous implementation of several measures, like monitoring the use of tobacco, banning smoking at public places and offices, putting large warning labels on cigarette packs, mass media anti-smoking campaigns, advertisement bans and higher taxation. These measures are collectively known as MPOWER.

By implementing all six MPOWER measures, Turkey was successful in reducing smoking prevalence among adults from 31.2% in 2008 to 27.1% in 2012. Data shows that India has among the lowest taxes on cigarettes compared to advanced economies or even its own neighbours.

While Sri Lanka has imposed a huge tax - 74% of the retail price of most popular brand - on cigarettes, Bangladesh has imposed 71%, Pakistan 60% India 43% and Nepal 35%. As far as the daily smoking prevalence among adults is concerned, Nepal is leading with 27%. The Himalayan country is followed by Bangladesh (23%), Pakistan (19%), Sri Lanka and India (12% each).

As per the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2013, countries with highest daily smoking prevalence are Kiribati (50%), Nauru (47%), Austria (44%), Greece (36%), Papua New Guinea (36%), Russia (34%), France (31%), Germany (24%), China (23%), Japan (20%) and the UK (14%). In an attempt to curb smoking, the UK has imposed 80% (of retail price of most popular brand) tax on cigarettes, while Greece imposed 82%, France 80%, Austria 74%, Germany 73%, Japan 64%, the US 43%, Kiribati 42%, China 41%, Russia 40% and Papua New Guinea 37%.

Meanwhile, the Indian health minister also announced that the government would raise the smoking age to 25 (from current 18), apart from imposing a ban on unpackaged cigarettes. Health campaigners have welcomed the government's decision, with Binoy Mathew - the spokesperson of the non-profit Voluntary Health Association of India - saying: "This is a very welcome move by the government. It's going to act as a huge deterrent especially for students and youngsters." He also said: "These people were easily buying single sticks for INR 10-15 (16 to 24 cents), but now they will have to shell out some INR 200 for the full pack, which will not be so easy." An estimated 70% of cigarettes sold in India are unpackaged. Enditem