Dec 10, 2007

Children in India plea to government for addition of pictorial warnings on tobacco packs

CHENNAI: Over 500 children from various parts of the city have urged the State and Central governmental agencies to ensure printing of pictorial warnings on the packets of tobacco products.

Holding placards in their hands, they formed a human chain near the Government Guest House, Chepauk on Sunday, to draw the attention of governmental agencies to ensure a tobacco-free environment…

Full Article:  The Hindu (December 10, 2007)

Dec 3, 2007

Group of Ministers and tobacco company ask for more time

NEW DELHI: There will be no gory pictoral warnings on tobacco packets from December 1. The government’s move to have pictures of cancerous tumours on cigarette packs and other products to scare people away from smoking has been scuttled yet again by the tobacco lobby…
Full Article: The Times of India (November 30, 2007)

Dec 3, 2007

Pressure from tobacco lobby delays legislation again

NEW DELHI: This is the fourth time in the past one year that the deadline of gory pictoral warnings on tobacco packets has been nullified. The new labels were initially planned for February, which was postponed to June, October and then to December.

In September, the same GoM had given its nod to the decision to make gory images of cancerous tumours, rotting teeth and diseased throats mandatory on tobacco packets. The new rules, passed by the Cabinet and Parliament, had specified that nearly 50% of the fresh packets would have to carry warnings in local languages. It also made the skull and crossbones sign optional…

Full Article: The Times of India (November 30, 2007)