The Indian Government has promised to push tobacco companies to manufacture packaging with bigger health warnings soon.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda assured the Lok Sabha that the government would go ahead with its decision to make the necessary changes to tobacco packaging.
The move comes after two MPs from the ruling party, former chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Subordinate Legislation Dilip Gandhi and a member of the panel Shyam Charan Gupta, made controversial statements doubting the link between tobacco products and cancer.
Rebutting the claims made by the MPs, Nadda said: "There is a direct relation between the consumption of tobacco and cancer. The ministry is consistent and crystal clear in its efforts to reduce tobacco consumption. We will go ahead once the panel submits its report."
Following the comments made by the MPs, PM Narendra Modi had asked Nadda to appoint a high-level committee to study the issue and submit a report at the earliest.
Once the committee submits its report, the government will take its decision regarding the implementation of the new law.
Initially, the rule was supposed to be introduced on April 1.
According to Reuters, the government had said in 2010 that nearly 900,000 Indians die every year of tobacco-related diseases.
The International Tobacco Control Project was quoted by the news agency as saying that there is a possibility of this number rising to 1.5 million by 2020 if users are not encouraged to give up the habit.
The new law, if it comes in effect, will also be applicable to foreign cigarettes, reported the Hindu Business Line.
Image: The Indian Government will soon take a decision regarding increasing the size of pictorial warning on cigarette packaging. Phott: courtesy of hinnamsaisuy/freedigitalphotos.net.
