India: Tobacco Sellers Barred From Displaying Products

Source from:  The Hindu 08/08/2017

Rajasthan first to enforce tobacco rule

In a first in the country, the Rajasthan government has barred sellers from displaying tobacco products in the open at their shops. The sellers at shops, kiosks, counters and mobile selling outlets will be fined if they continue to display cigarettes, tobacco pouches and other tobacco items.

Principal Health Secretary Veenu Gupta issued orders under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, on Thursday while directing that that the tobacco products should not be displayed in such a manner that they would be available to children under 18 years of age.

The Act prohibits selling of tobacco products to minor children. Ms. Gupta said the amended rule of 2011 under Section 6 (a) of the Act had made it mandatory that the tobacco products would not be displayed at the selling points.

Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to enforce the rule with the objective of discouraging the consumption of tobacco products. These items are prominently displayed and openly sold at the shops and roadside kiosks all over the country.

Non-government organisations working for elimination of tobacco consumption in the State have welcomed the decision. Jayesh Joshi, secretary of NGO Vaagdhara, said the move would help in weaning the youths away from smoking cigarettes and consuming tobacco and building a tobacco-free society. Enditem