Loopholes in Tobacco Control Act plugged — Celluloid screens go `smoke-free'

No longer will Rajnikant's fans be able to view their favourite star flick his cigarette in his inimitable style without a scroll appearing alongside warning of the health hazards of smoking.

The mandatory display of a prominent scroll containing a health warning when programmes containing smoking scenes or showing use of other forms of tobacco are aired, is one of the several amendments to the Tobacco Control Act notified by the Government on Tuesday on the World No Tobacco Day.

The notification, which comes into effect from August 1, totally bans the display of tobacco products or their use by characters in movies and television, besides the mandatory scrolling of a health warning in the existing scenes of smoking.

In a move to tighten the loopholes in the existing provisions under the Act, the Government notified a set of added rules and regulations, including "the cropping and masking of brand names or logos of tobacco products if it forms part of any picture printed or aired through any form of electronic media".

The other amendments include ban on sale of tobacco products to minors and through vending machines. They also stipulate that the stacking of tobacco products at the point of sale be done in a manner to prevent easy access to persons below 18 years.

The notification also bans advertisement of non-tobacco products bearing the same brand name as the tobacco product, besides stipulating that only one board of advertisement be displayed at the point of sale of tobacco products, avoiding display of promotional message, picture and illumination and back lighting.

Announcing the amendments to the rules at a press conference, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, said that a high-power committee is being set up comprising Members of Parliament, representatives of Health and Information and Broadcasting Ministries and NGOs to look into complaints or grievances relating to indirect advertisements, including whether a product is a standalone product or a brand extension.

On whether there is a move to ban non-smoking tobacco products such as pan masala and gutkha, the Minister said that a scientific report is under preparation, which is examining the content of non-smoking tobacco products as also whether such products could be banned under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act or the Tobacco Control Act.