Lok Sabha Question No. 574 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Ban on Gutkha, Tobacco Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 574 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th JULY, 2018

## BAN ON GUTKHA, TOBAC CO PRODUCTS

## 574. SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH ANDFAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether in the wake of indiscriminate use of gutkha, pan masala and other tobacco products a large number people develop cancer and other critical diseases and if so, the steps taken by the Government to ban its sale;

(b) the details of schemes concerned launched by the Government along with funds allocated for the same; and

(c)  the  details  of  goals  set  and  target achieved  by  the  Government  in  checking tobacco consumption by common people.

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a): As per the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) report on Evidenc Assessment:  Harmful  Effects  Of  Consumpt ion  Of  Gutkha,  Tobacco,  Pan  Masala  and  Similar Articles  Manufactured  in  India  (2011),  there  are  3095  chemical  components  in  smokel tobacco products (including gutkha), among them 28 are proven carcinogen. Further, the Re also  states  that  there  is  st rong  and  consistent  evidence  from  a  number  of  studies  to  indicat significant risk of oral cancer and pharyngeal cancer, oesophageal cancer, and pancreatic with smokeless tobacco use. The risk of these cancers is found to increase with increasing sage and frequency of smokeless tobacco use.

Also,  available  scientific  literature  and  empirical  studies  have  brought  ou consumption of both smokeless and smoking tobacco products is a big risk factor for cance other critical diseases.

Food  Sa fety  and  Standards  (Prohibition  and  Restrictions  on  Sales)  Regulations,  20 , made under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 ,lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.

Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) stipulate ban on sale of cigarette or any other tobacco product to & by minors and in an area w radius of one h undred yards of any educational institution.

(b): National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in 2007 - 08 with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of t products,  (iii)  ensure  eff ective  implementation  of  the  provisions  under  'Cigarettes  and  Other Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  and  Regulation  of  Trade  and  Commerce, Production,  Supply  and  Distribution)  Act,  2003'  (COTPA,  2003)  (iv)  help  the  people  quit tobacco use, an d (v) facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of t advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.

The funds allocated for this scheme during 2017 -18 are Rs. 126.56 crore.

(c): During the 12 th Five Year Progr amme, there was a target to reduce the prevalence of tobacco  use  by  5%.  As  per  the  findings  of  second  round  of  Global  Adult  Tobacco  Surv (GATS - 2), India 2016 - 7, the prevalence of any form of tobacco use has decreased significan by six percentage poin ts from 34.6% in 2009 - 10 to 28.6% in 2016 - 7.