India: Golden Tobacco Company Breaks Ranks on Pictorial Warnings

Source from:  The Times of India 04/13/2016

With the health ministry maintaining its firm anti-tobacco stand, one of the oldest cigarette manufacturers Golden Tobacco Company was the first to implement the new and larger health warnings.

Golden Tobacco Company, the manufacturer of Panama and Golden Gold Flake cigarettes, have started carrying 85% pictorial health warnings on both sides of its tobacco product packets bearing April 2016 as the manufacture date.

This assumes significance as many cigarette manufacturers have opposed the government's move to impose 85% increase on the size of pictorial warning on all tobacco products. Not succumbing to the pressure, the health ministry has maintained all products leaving factory from April 1 will have to carry the warning.

To ensure compliance, the ministry has also written to various government departments and ministries including revenue, commerce, external affairs, labour, civil aviation and tourism to ensure effective implementation of the new specified health warnings on cigarettes and other tobacco products with effect from April1.

Last year, the health ministry had issued a notification for implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Amendment Rules, 2014, which came into force April 1 this year. These amendments prescribe 85% increase on the size pictorial warnings on both sides of tobacco products, instead of 40% as of now on one side. Enditem