The Union Health Ministry has proposed a ban on sale of loose or single stick of cigarette and raise fine on smoking in public places to Rs1,000 from Rs200. The Ministry has also proposed raising the minimum age of those who can be sold tobacco products to 21 years from existing 18 years.
These are some of the major recommendations in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Amendment) Bill 2015, which were put out by the Health Ministry on Tuesday to seek suggestions from public.
Seeking to make violation of the proposed law much more stringent than the existing Act, the draft Bill increases the maximum fine to Rs1 lakh from the existing Rs10,000.
“No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit sale of, cigarettes or any other tobacco products loose or in single sticks...To any person who is under 21 years of age; employ, engage or use any person who is under 18 years of age in cultivation, processing, sale of tobacco or tobacco products,” according to the proposed bill.
The Bill also proposes to increase the age later to 23 years and then to 25 in two phases after studying impact of the new provisions to “ensure protection of the future generation from the hazards of tobacco products.”
The Bill also proposes special session courts for the trial of offences under it. It will increase reporting of violation, filing of complaints, expedite trial of offences and ensure effective implementation of the law, it says.