Lok Sabha Question No. 2208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Consumption of Tobacco Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH, PREM DAS RAI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## CONSUMPTION OF TOBAC CO PRODUCTS

## 2208. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH: SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

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

(a)  the  total  production  and consumption  of  cigarettes vis - a- vis othertobacco  products i.e. chewing tobacco, beedis, khaini and the estimated number of farmers and workers engaged in tobaccofarming and industry in the country;

(b)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  tax  chewing  tobacco,  beedis,  khaini  and other  such traditional tobacco products at par with cigarettes to deter people from consuming them, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken note of marketing and consumption of a number of illegal cigarettes in the country, if so, the details thereof indicating the volume of them seized during eachof the last three years and the current year, State/ UT - wise;

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to check smuggling and marketing of illegal cigarettes in the country; and

(e)  the  fresh  measures  being  taken  by the  Government  to  curb  smoking  and consumption  of tobaccoproducts including imported cigarettes in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a): As per information received from the Tobacco Board - Department of Commerce, details regarding production and consumption (domestic sales) of cigarettes in the country during last three years are at Annexure 1; details regarding estimated number of farmers and w engaged in tobacco farming and industry in the country are at Annexure 2; and details regarding number of FCV Tobacco Growers registered with the Tobacco Board in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are at Annexure - 3.

The information regarding production and consumption of other tobacco products i. chewing tobacco, beedis, and khaini is not available with this Ministry.

(b) : As per information received from the Department of Revenue, there is no such propo currently under consideration of the Government.

(c )& (d): As  per  information  received  from  the  Anti - Smuggling  Unit  of  Depart ment  of Revenue, the Department has detected several cases of smuggling of foreign cigarettes country. The details of Cigarettes of foreign brands seized during the last three years a year are at Annexure - 4.

In this regard, the field forma tions including Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have been sensitized and alerted to keep a strict vigil so as to prevent/check smuggling brand of cigarettes in the country.

(e) : The Government has taken a series of measures to deter p eople from consuming various tobacco products, including imported cigarettes:

- I. Enactment of the 'Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and  Regulation  of  Trade  and  Commerce,  Production,  Supply  and  Distribution)  Act (COTPA) 2003'.
- II. Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
- III. Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007 - 08, with the objectives to (a) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consum (b)  reduce  the production  and  supply  of  tobacco  products,  (c)  ensure  effectiv implementation of the anti - tobacco laws and (d) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.
- IV. Notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes.
- V. Notification of rules on new pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages.
- VI. Launch of public awareness campaigns through a variety of media.

## Annexure 1

Details regarding production and consumption (domestic sales) of cigarettes in the country during the last three years

(Quantity in crore pieces)

| Year    |   Production |   Consumption |
|---------|--------------|---------------|
| 2012-13 |      11701.5 |      10322.5  |
| 2013-14 |      11010.1 |      10178.5  |
| 2014-15 |      10526.9 |       9322.85 |

Annexure 2 Details regarding estimated number of farmers and workers engaged in tobacco farming and industry in the country

| Sector              |   Number in Lakhs | Source                                                                                   |
|---------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Farmers             |                60 | 22 nd Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation (10 th Lok Sabha) |
| Farm Labour         |               200 | 22 nd Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation (10 th Lok Sabha) |
| Bidi Workers        |                48 | Reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 979 on 01/03/2006                            |
| Tendu Leaf Pluckers |                22 | Government of Madhya Pradesh                                                             |
| Traders/Retailers   |                50 | ORC-MARTG Research Data                                                                  |
| Total               |               380 |                                                                                          |

Annexure-3 Details regarding number of FCV Tobacco Growers registered with the Tobacco Board in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

|                            | Growers        | Growers   | Growers   |
|----------------------------|----------------|-----------|-----------|
| Crop Season                | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Total     |
| 2012-13                    | 47415          | 42289     | 89704     |
| 2013-14                    | 47247          | 42263     | 89510     |
| 2014-15                    | 45962          | 42362     | 88324     |
| 2015-16 (as on 30/11/2015) | 45053          | 42366     | 87419     |

## Annexure-4

Details of Cigarettes of foreign brands seized during the last three years and current year

| Year            |   Cigarettes of foreign brands seized (in thousands) |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 2012-13         |                                              51768.9 |
| 2013-14         |                                              26435.9 |
| 2014-15         |                                             114330   |
| 2015-16 to date |                                              55890.1 |
| Total           |                                             248425   |