August 24, New Delhi
News- Gory images on cigarette packets
NEW DELHI: Gory images of cancerous tumours, rotting teeth and diseased throats on cigarette packets will become mandatory from December. According to a Shimla High Court directive, the pictorial warnings will have to be in place by October.
But the Union health ministry will soon move court to ask for a two-month extension as it will move a bill in Parliament on August 17 to amend Section 7(1) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, which calls for a compulsory skull and crossbones warning on cigarette packets.
But political pressure recently made the cabinet pass a legislation making the skull and bones sign optional. The specified health warnings at present are the skull and bones sign, a health warning that says tobacco kills/smoking kills, gory images portraying the ill-effects of tobacco use and a health message. Speaking to TOI, health secretary Naresh Dayal said, "Some sections had problems with two of the warnings - the image of a dead body and the skull and bones sign. We will replace the image of a dead body. But because the skull and bones warning is specified in the Anti-Tobacco Act, we are moving a bill in Parliament to amend it." He added, "When passed, we will notify the tobacco industry, who will need some time to come out with the new labels. October, therefore, will be too close.
That's why we will move the Shimla High Court and ask for a two-month extension. The new labels will be made mandatory from December." Anybody who produces or manufactures cigarettes or tobacco products without the specified warning will face imprisonment of up to two years or be fined Rs 5,000 or both.
If the offence is committed for the second time, the imprisonment will be extended to five years with a fine of Rs 10,000. Anybody selling or distributing cigarettes or tobacco products without the specified warning will face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of Rs 1,000 or both, and for the second or subsequent conviction, the imprisonment may extend to two years with a fine of Rs 3,000.
The new labels was initially planned for February which was postponed to June.
online available at-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Gory_images_on_cigarette_packets/articleshow/2278867.cms
