.... moving towards a tobacco free india

Chandigarh
February 11, 2010

Taking serious note of distribution of prizes in the name of tobacco brand name by a tobacco company, Hemant Goswami, a member of the National Steering Committee said that the National Committee will take action against the company Godfrey Phillips Limited. The Union Ministry of Health had notified a 17 member Steering Committee in October 2006 to take cognizance and action for all violations relating to Section 5 of the "Cigarettes and other tobacco products Act 2003."

"I have already written to the IG Police and the Director Health Services to provide the necessary cooperation and confiscate all the material and literature under the provisions of Section 12 and 13 of the Tobacco Act. Once the basic seizure is done, a proper FIR is to be registered." Hemant informed.

Under Section 5 of the tobacco control legislation, it is an offence punishable by up to five years to promote or agree to promote any trade mark or brand name of cigarettes or any other tobacco product in exchange for a sponsorship, gift, prize or scholarship given or agreed to be given by another person. Section 5 of the tobacco control also prohibits any kind of direct or indirect advertisement which can have the effect of promotion of any tobacco product.

PRESS RELEASE - WHO

New Delhi, 29 May 2009: On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (31 May 2009), the World Health Organization is urging Member States to focus on "Tobacco Health Warnings".

"Health warnings on tobacco product packages are critical to any effective tobacco control strategy. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) obligates its parties to ensure that tobacco products carry health warnings describing their harmful effects," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.

Health warnings on tobacco packages that combine text and pictures are one of the most cost-effective ways to increase public awareness about the serious health risks of tobacco. Text and pictorial health warnings trigger a more intense emotional response and generate a greater degree of motivation and intention to quit. They are particularly effective in communicating the health effects of tobacco to comparatively low-literate populations, children and young people.