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India ratifies global pact on tobacco control
Wednesday, 11 February 2004, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India has ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and disease.
Unanimously adopted by 192 nations at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 21, 2003, India became the seventh country to ratify the treaty on Feb 5, the health ministry stated Tuesday.
The first international treaty on tobacco use, the FCTC requires countries to impose restrictions on advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and establish new packaging and labelling of tobacco products with strong health warnings.
It seeks to ensure clean indoor air by imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and strengthening legislation to clamp down on illicit trade in tobacco products.
Even before the FCTC was adopted at the WHA, India had enacted the national tobacco-control legislation for total ban on direct and indirect advertisements of all tobacco products, prohibition on sponsorship of sports and cultural events that encourage tobacco use, ban on smoking in public places and ban on sale of tobacco products to minors.
The legislation that will come into effect from May 1, prohibits sale of cigarettes and tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions and has made pictorial depiction of warnings mandatory on all tobacco products.
The legislation has specified that health warnings and clear indication of nicotine and tar contents should be displayed on packets and cartons of all tobacco products.
As per studies conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) treatment of tobacco related diseases and the related loss of productivity costs India, a major tobacco consuming and producing nation, almost 
135 billion annually.
"It is hoped that with the implementation of the legislation and the provisions of FCTC, the burden of tobacco related morbidity and mortality will substantially reduce over the next few years," the health ministry stated.
Source: IANS
135 billion annually.
"It is hoped that with the implementation of the legislation and the provisions of FCTC, the burden of tobacco related morbidity and mortality will substantially reduce over the next few years," the health ministry stated.
Source: IANS