Tobacco: Panel recommends massive reduction in size of pictorial warning
Reports said while the Ministry of Health has promised to implement anti-tobacco warnings covering 85 per cent area of both sides of cigarette and beedi packs, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation has mooted only 50 per cent coverage in its report tabled in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
For beedis, the panel wants only single sided warnings as against full of coverage the Ministry is planning.
The committee, headed by beedi baron Dalip Gandhi — a BJP member — had forced the Ministry last year to hold its notification on tobacco warnings that was to come into force from April 1, 2015.
The justification given was the panel is examining the validity of warnings in aiding reduction of tobacco use.
The Ministry swore under oath in Rajasthan High Court that it would issue its pending notification this April.
With the final report tabled on Tuesday also backing the beedi lobby rather than public health, and Ministry may again be forced to delay its notification.
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