Punjab Government has issued fresh guidelines in keeping with the notification issued by the Central Government regarding the pictorial health warning on tobacco packs.
All the concerned officials from the Department of Factories at the district levels have been asked to strictly ensure that no tobacco products are manufactured without 85 per cent health warning on tobacco packs. Similar instructions are also being sent to all Deputy Commissioners, Police Commissioners & SSPs to ensure strict compliance of the orders, said Vini Mahajan, Punjab Principal Secretary, Health.
She said that as per the notification, "the specified health warning shall cover at least 85 per cent of the principal display area of the package of which 60 per cent shall cover pictorial health warning and 25 per cent shall cover textual health warning and shall be positioned on the top edge of the package and in the same direction as the information on the principal display area."
In order to sensitise the tobacco users towards its ill health effects, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued a notification dated September 24, 2015 regarding increase in the size of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products.
She said that this notification of larger pictorial health warnings carries tremendous importance. It will make positive behavioural change among current tobacco users. A larger pictorial warning on tobacco products is the most cost effective strategy to prevent youngsters from initiating the use and provoke current users to quit the habit. It has been already authenticated by PGIMER study in Punjab that more than 90 per cent of the current tobacco users noticed pictorial health warnings on packs. Out of these more that 60 per cent thought of quitting smoking after seeing the health warning, she added.
Hussan lal, Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration said that a coordinated effort from all stakeholder departments is the essence of controlling the menace of tobacco and nicotine.
He said that it is the responsibility of every stakeholder department and civil society which are members of the State & District level Coordination Committe to create awareness about hazards of tobacco and implement the anti-tobacco or nicotine laws effectively.
All the Food Safety Officers & Drug Inspectors have been directed to ensure that there is no sale of flavoured or scented chewable tobacco & E-Cigarettes, said he.
He informed that Punjab Street Vendors scheme 2016 has been notified by Department of local Bodies to issue licenses to Tobacco vendors as per pre conditions suggested by Departments of Health and Excise & Taxation.
The Punjab Tobacco Vends Fees Act has to be implemented by the Department of Excise & Taxation and also they need to take strict action against the sale of illicit tobacco products.
He further said that whenever enforcement drive is conducted, a lot of smuggled, duplicate, illegal tobacco products are seized, so legal Metrology Department should take action against such products as per the norms.
The role of Police Department is very crucial as they have to ensure implementation of all sections of COTPA, Juvenile Justice Act 2015 (Ban on offering tobacco to minors) and also they have to ensure that there is no functional Hukkah Bar in their jurisdiction, he added.
Dr HS Bali, Director, Health Punjab said that, lack of proper pictorial health warning on tobacco packs deprives the buyer of the impactful information about harmful effects of tobacco. If implemented this will go a long way in deterring young children & youth from initiation and also motivate current users to quit.