India: 8 States Together to Stop Tobacco Industry Interference

Source from:  Daily Pioneer 09/24/2015

To stop the interference of tobacco industry in the formulation and implementation of public health policies, as many as eight states including Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Sikkim, Karnataka, Bihar, Kerala, and UT of Chandigarh has joined hands.

The initiative was taken during a roundtable consultation on 'Implementation of FCTC Article 5.3 – Stopping Tobacco Industry Interference in Tobacco Control' for policy makers, programme managers and tobacco control expert from various states, civil society and public health experts. The consultation was organized by International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union) on September 23 and 24 at Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani.

The consultation, attended by Health Ministers of Karnataka UT Khader, Himachal Pradesh Kaul Singh Thakur, Government and NGO officials from eight states — Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Haryana, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, discussed the ways of tobacco industry interference in tobacco control programme and to formulate a comprehensive policy to strengthen the adherence to Article 5.3 of FCTC Article to protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.

They emphasised on the need to have more stringent laws enacted to check tobacco abuse in the larger public interest.

Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader shared many multi-departmental actions the state has initiated for tobacco control in the state. He informed that as there is no use of any law without proper implementation, Tobacco control programme is being monitored by Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health) through review of monthly reports submitted by district administration.

"The state has created a web-based real time reporting system. Further, to deal with the livelihood challenge of tobacco formers, state health department is working with department of horticulture, agriculture and welfare board to cut down annual tobacco production volume by 10 percent per year," he said, adding that the state is also taking steps for prohibition of hooka bars in Karnataka.

Himachal Minister Kaul Singh Thakur informed that the state has proposed to ban sale of loose cigarette and to enforce licensing provisions for sale of any tobacco product in the state.

Further, he shared the concerns related to inter-state illicit trade of tobacco products and reiterated the need of coordinated efforts of neighbouring states for uniform tax policy for tobacco products.

Jayani said that Punjab Government, at various levels, have been approached by the representatives of tobacco industry for easing implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, and withdrawing certain notifications to tackle Tobacco or Nicotine menace.

Punjab Principal Secretary (Health) Vini Mahajan said that all kinds of chewable tobacco and sale of loose cigarettes is banned in Punjab and license of a commercial establishment can be cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act. Enditem