Lok Sabha Question No. 3748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Policy to combat use of Tobacco
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed, Hemant Patil, Behanan Benny, M. Selvaraj

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3748 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2022

## POLICY TO COMBAT USE OF TOBACCO

## 3748 DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has drafted any new policy to combat the use of tobacco;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the manner in which the Government plans to discourage the purchase of tobacco given that there has been no change in the taxation levied on the price of tobacco for Financial Year 2022-2023;
- (d) measures implemented to curb the consumption of tobacco by minors/children; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  revise  its  policy  banning  e-cigarettes  considering that e-cigarettes have been granted FDA approval and after their ban, underage smoking has
- increased?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (b): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has enacted a comprehensive legislation, namely  the  Cigarettes  and  Other  Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  and Regulation  of  Trade  and  Commerce,  Production,  Supply  and  Distribution)  Act  [COTPA], 2003 to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in order to protect the masses from the health hazards attributable to tobacco use.

- (c): The Ministry has been taking various measures for reducing tobacco use;
-  The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in 2007- 08 with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementation of the provisions  of  COTPA,  2003  (iv) help  people  quit  tobacco use,  and  (v)  facilitate

implementation of strategies  for  prevention  and  control  of  tobacco  advocated  by  WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.

-  Enforcement efforts are also monitored by the State Tobacco Control Cells (STCCs) and District Tobacco Control Cells (DTCCs).
-  The stakeholders are made aware on a regular basis about the adverse effects of tobacco usage on health through various anti-tobacco campaigns .
-  The  Government  of  India  has  notified  rules  to regulate  films  and  TV  programmes depicting scenes of tobacco usage to spread awareness. Such films and TV programmes are  statutorily  required  to  run  anti-tobacco  health  spots,  disclaimers  and  static  health warnings.
-  Specified  health  warnings  on  tobacco  products is  enhanced  w.e.f.  1st  April,  2016  to 85% of  the  principal  display  area  of  tobacco  product  packs.  Quitline  number  has  been included in new specified health warnings with Quitline number which came into effect on 1 st September, 2018.
-  The  Ministry  has  started National  Tobacco  Quitline  to  provide  tobacco  cessation services to the community and has launched a pan-India 'mCessation' initiative to reach out  to  tobacco  users  who  are  willing  to  quit  tobacco  use  and  to  support  them  towards successful quitting through text-messaging via mobile phones. Tobacco cessation centers have also been set up in Dental Colleges/Institutions across the country.
-  (Revised) Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) to implement Section-6 of COTPA, 2003 have been disseminated/implemented.
-  The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Regulation 2.3.4, issued under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 ,  provides that tobacco and nicotine cannot be used as ingredients in Food Products.

(d):  As  per  Section  6  (a)  of  Cigarettes  and  Other  Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003) read with Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment  Rules,  2011,  there  is prohibition  on  sale  of  tobacco  products  to  and  by persons  below  the  age  of  18  years and  as  per  Section  6  (b)  of  COTPA,  2003,  there  is prohibition on sale of tobacco products in an area within a radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution .

The  Ministry  has  also  issued  the  ' Guidelines  for  Tobacco  Free  Educational  Institution (Revised)' for effective implementation of Section-6 of COTPA, 2003, on 31 st May, 2019; States are taking effective measures with Education departments for implementation of these Guidelines.

Public Health is a State subject and the primary responsibility for enforcement of the Act, lies with the State Governments. Central Government in collaboration with State Governments are taking necessary measures for effective implementation of these provisions of COTPA, 2003,  and  Guidelines  for  Tobacco  Free  Educational  Institution  2019,  to  dissuade  young children and youth from tobacco use.

(e). The  Prohibition  of Electronic  Cigarettes  (Production,  Manufacture,  Import,  Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019 has been enacted by the Parliament  after  due  considerations  and  deliberations.  Govt.  of  India's  sustained  efforts  in fight against tobacco led to a 17.3% decline (relative reduction) in tobacco use from 2009 to 2016; and with increasing awareness about harms due to tobacco and rigorous implementation  of  the  law,  Govt.  of  India  is  witnessing  a  steady  decline  in  tobacco prevalence. Considering the National Health Policy, 2017 targets and strong tobacco control measures, Govt. is focused on reducing prevalence of tobacco use and not replacing one form  of  addiction  with  another. The  pre-emptive  decision  for  prohibiting  Electronic Cigarettes and like devices, has been taken in the larger interest of public health .

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