Lok Sabha Question No. 4332 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Vendor Licenses for Selling of Tobacco Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Pankaj Chowdhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## VENDOR LICENSES FOR SELLING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS

## †4332. SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government had issued an advisory in September 2017 to the States/UTs for issuing vendor licenses for selling of tobacco products;
- (b) whether the guidelines/directions that tobacco products should not be allow d to be sold within the 100 yards of schools have been issued to the States;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has reviewed  the  guidelines  and  advisory,  if  so, the  details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that spurious tobacco products and loose cigarettes are being sold on small shops and carts on road, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to make the provisions of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 more effectiv e, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): Vender Licensing is under the purview of State/UT Government and Local Bodies.

This  Ministry  has  written  letter to  States/Union  Territories  on  21 st September,  2017  to consider  developing  a  mechanism  to  provide  permission/authorization  through  Municip Authority/Local  Authority  to  the  retail  shops  who  are  selling  tobacco  products  w condition/provision  in  the  au thorization  that  the  shops  authorized  for  selling  tobacc products, cannot sell any non - tobacco product such as toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, so -drinks, etc., which are essentially meant for children.

- (b)& (c) : Section - 6(b) of the Cigarettes an d Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003) prohibits sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products area within a radius of one hundred y ards of any educational institution.

The enforcement of provisions of COTPA, 2003 and Rules made thereunder is the responsibility of the States/Union Territories. For effective implementation of this Central  Government  has  notified  authorized  offi cers  from  various  Departments  and  also advised States/Union Territories, from time to time, for strict compliance of COTPA, 20

The Ministry has also issued the revised 'Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institution' which also stipulate that the Educational Institution Management should ensure that no tobacco products are sold inside the premises and in an area within a 100 yards from the premises.

(d): No such specific information is available with the Ministry. However, as per Se Round  of  Global  Adult  Tobacco  Survey  (GATS - 2)  report  loose  cigarettes  are  sold  in  the country.

(e): No such proposal is under consideration at present.