Larger pictorial warnings on tobacco products

• The Supreme Court directed all tobacco companies to implement the rule mandating 85% pictorial warnings on packets of tobacco products.
• The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules 2014 were notified in October 2014 under which the size of the pictorial warning was to be increased, the intention being to reach out to people who may be illiterate, or may not notice small warnings. The larger warnings were to come into effect from April 1, 2015.
• This move was opposed by tobacco lobby by filing case in Karnataka high court and further in Supreme court against the order of Karnataka high court. which endorsed the government notification.

Analysis:

• Many countries has successfully adopted some effective measures to control tobacco consumption. Like Australia in 2012 pioneered a move to have cigarettes sold in logo-free plain cartons to deter smokers. Also, The European Court of Justice (ECJ) backed a measure to cover two-thirds of a cigarette packet with health cautions in the 28 member-states of the European Union.
• This is an effective way to help break the smoking habit. Countries such as India have enforced rules that warnings be affixed in films when someone use tobacco product on screen.
• Tobacco manufacturers have a duty towards the society. Bigger pictorial warnings on tobacco products are necessary to educate people. They should know about its effect on health.
• Tobacco is the most important identified cause of cancer and is responsible for about 40 to 50 per cent of all cancers in men and about 20 per cent of all cancers in women.
• Tobacco is the only legal product that kills more than 50 per cent of consumers who use it the way it is intended. The best public health evidence that has accumulated in the last 50-75 years is with regard to the dangers of tobacco. Tobacco causes not just cancer, but a whole host of cardiac, respiratory and other problems.
• But this move also impacting the one side of industry like Bidis, Bidis are natural product and are very small as compared to cigarettes. There is no alternative crops for bidi/tobacco farmers. The new rule that 85% of the bidi wrapper should contain horrific warnings etc. will cause the bidi industry to collapse.
• However, this concern can be addressed by providing alternative crops in regions engaged in tobacco production, so there would be no great implications for farmers’ livelihood.
• But till now no ban has worked 100 per cent in India or anywhere else. In fact, an outright ban may turn out to be counterproductive and result in illegitimate consumption of tobacco. So what is required is restricted access and educating the masses on the ill-effects of the tobacco consumption. People should be made aware of the ill-effects of tobacco at an early age so that they know the risks beforehand before getting themselves acquainted to the habit of smoking

By: Vishal