On World No Tobacco Day, the Union Health Ministry notified that OTT platforms will carry anti-tobacco warnings as do theatres and TV shows. The amended rules come under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2004.
Online publishers will now have to show anti-tobacco ads that are at least 30 seconds long, according to the new diktat. The spot should also have a strong message about the health effects of tobacco consumption.
The audio-visual message should comprise a disclaimer lasting at least 20 seconds at the programme’s start and midpoint.
The message should be legible in black font against a white background. The spot should also carry warnings like “tobacco causes cancer” and “smoking kills” in the same language as the content.