Lok Sabha Question No. 851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Pictorial Warnings on Tobacco Product Packages
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: K. C. VENUGOPAL

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.851**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 24** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**Pictorial Warnings on Tobacco Product Packages**

**851. SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:**

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

(a) the details of the reasons for postponement or withdrawal of bigger pictorial health warnings on 85 per cent covering areas of cigarette and other tobacco product packages in the country;

(b) whether the Government has received representations from various quarters including public representatives for and against bigger pictorial health warnings, and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the time by which bigger pictorial health warnings on 85 per cent covering areas of cigarette and other tobacco product packages are likely to be implemented in the country?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a):	The Committee on Subordinate Legislation (COSL), 16 th LokSabha, is examining the Rules related to implementation of the new pictorial health warnings notified vide G.S.R. 727 (E) dated 15.10.2014. The Committee submitted its interim report to LokSabha on 18 March 2015, recommending, inter alia, to keep in abeyance the implementation of the Rules till the Committee finalizes the examination of the subject and arrive at appropriate conclusions and presents a report to the Parliament. Accordingly, a corrigendum was issued on 26 th March, 2015, suspending the date of implementation and stating that the date of implementation of the Rules shall be as appointed/ notified by the Government.

(b):	The Government has received representations from various quarters including public representatives for and against implementation of bigger pictorial health warnings. Details of some of the key representations received is at **ANNEX .**

(c):	As per the recommendations of the interim report submitted by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (COSL), the implementation of the rules related to implementation of the pictorial health warnings covering 85% display area of tobacco products packages has been kept in abeyance till the Committee finalizes the examination of the subject and arrives at appropriate conclusions and presents report to the Parliament.

**ANNEX URE**

|   **Sl. No.** | **Name**                                                                                    | **Name of organization**                                 | **Remarks**                                                           |
|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|             1 | Shri. ShyamaCharan Gupta,  through PMO                                                      | Member of Parliament (LS) Allahabad                      | Against the implementation of the Pack warnings.                      |
|             2 | Shri. P N Rambabu                                                                           | Tobacco farmers Federation                               | The size of the new warning is unwarranted.                           |
|             3 | Shri. D S Rawat                                                                             | ASSOCHAM                                                 | Against the implementation of the Pack warnings.                      |
|             4 | Federation of Karnataka Virginia Tobacco Growers Association – though Ministry of Commerce. |                                                          | The size of the new warning is unwarranted.(concerns only FCV growers |
|             5 | Dr PrakitVathesatogkit ,MD                                                                  | Action on smoking and health foundation Thailand.        | Supports the implementation of the strong and large pack warnings.    |
|             6 | Prof. TezerKutluk ,  Anil D’ Cruz                                                           | Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Geneva    | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|             7 | Ms. Sally G. Cowal                                                                          | American Cancer Society (ACS), Washington                | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|             8 | Mr. Alison Cox                                                                              | Cancer Research UK                                       | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|             9 | Ms. Laurent Huber                                                                           | Framework convention Alliance, Geneva                    | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|            10 | Shri. ShantaLalMulmi                                                                        | Resource centre for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC), Nepal | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|            11 | Shri. DeshabandhuOlcottGunasekera                                                           | Sri Lanka National Federation on smoking and Health.     | Congratulates the Govt for notifying the new warnings                 |
|            12 | Ms. RuchiraNeog                                                                             | Voluntary Health Association of Assam                    | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings                |
|            13 | Dr. PrakashC.Gupta                                                                          | Mail Voice of Tobacco Victims, Mumbai                    | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings                |
|            14 | Shri. Taposh Roy , Ms.RadhikaShrivastav                                                     | HRIDAY, New Delhi                                        | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings                |
|            15 | Dr. Ravikant Singh                                                                          | Doctors for you                                          | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings                |
|            16 | Ms. Johanna Ralston                                                                         | World Heart Federation and its 200 members, Geneva       | Commends the implementation of the new health warnings                |

|   17 | Shri. Chandrajit Banerjee                   | Director General of Confederation of Indian Industry, New Delhi    | Withdraw the notification (15t oct, 2014)                    |
|------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|   18 | Ram Aashary Mishra                          | भारतीयपानविक्रेता                                                  | Against implementation of the new pack warnings              |
|   19 | Sh. Karbhariungle and others                | Maharashtra RajyaBeediKamgar Federation, Ahmednagar                | Against implementation of the new pack warnings              |
|   20 | Secretary                                   | Chhattisgarh Bidi Leaves Merchants Association, Raipur             | Bidis be excluded from the new notification on pack warnings |
|   21 | Sh. KalalSrinivas                           | AkhilBharatiyaBeediMazdoorMahaSangh, Hyderabad.                    | Bidis be excluded from the new notification on pack warnings |
|   22 | Dr. Alaka Bhattacharyya, DevaduttaChoudhury | North East Society for promotion of Youth and Masses,ASSAM         | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   23 | Sr. LeelammaThayip                          | St. Ann’s Hospital, Andhra Pradesh                                 | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   24 | M.dMoulana                                  | BeediKarmikaSangham, Andhra Pradesh                                | Bidis be excluded from the new notification on pack warnings |
|   25 | Sh. K.L. Sharma                             | Indian Geronatological Association, Jaipur                         | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   26 | Sh. Rupesh Kumar                            | Tesser Technologies, Kerala                                        | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   27 | Chairman                                    | Sahara International, Srinagar                                     | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   28 |                                             | MooncraftsSopore Women’s Empowerment, Kashmir                      | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   29 | Shri .TapanSen                              | Member of Parliament (RajyaSabha)                                  | Concerned about beedi industry                               |
|   30 |                                             | All India Tobacco Manufactures Association                         | Representation to withdraw the new warnings                  |
|   31 | BathulaRamula                               | Sircilla Division beedikarmikasankshemasangam, Andhra Pradesh      | Bidis be excluded from the new notification on pack warnings |
|   32 | Dr. K. Srinath Reddy and others             | India Australia Task Force on Tobacco Control                      | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |
|   33 | Shri .NuneVengaiah  through PMO             | Confederation of MAdiga Association, Andra Pradesh                 | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings       |

|   34 | Dr. UpendraBhojani  through PMO              | Institute of Public Health, Karnataka                                  | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |
|------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   35 | Shri. K.V.N. Sailaja (Advocate)  through PMO |                                                                        | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |
|   36 | Shri .VaddepalliRajainh  through PMO         | ShriTarakarama Rural and Urban Developmet organization, Andhra Pradesh | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |
|   37 | Ms. Bhavana B. Mukhopadhyay  through PMO     | Voluntary Health Asscoiation of India                                  | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |
|   38 | Shri. T.K.Venkatesh  through PMO             | Voluntary Health Asscoiation, Andhra Pradesh                           | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |
|   39 | Shri . M.S.N. Prasad (Advocate)  through PMO |                                                                        | Supports the implementation of the new health warnings from 1  st  April, 2015   |