HEALTH DRIVE GOES UP IN SMOKE
India ranks a lowly 100 in anti-puff campaign…….Kounteya Sinha
Gory Pictorial Warnings On Packets Have Been Put Off
India ranks a lowly 100 in anti-puff campaign…….Kounteya Sinha
Gory Pictorial Warnings On Packets Have Been Put Off
New Delhi: India figures shamefully low in a new report that ranks countries according to how successfully they have managed to introduce pictorial health warnings on tobacco packetsa proven strategy that deters people from smoking or chewing tobacco.
India ranks 100 among 175 countries surveyed on warning size and fulfilment of requirements for picture-based warnings on cigarette packets.Under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC),an international treaty signed and ratified by India,the parties are required to carry health warnings on all packages of tobacco products describing the harmful effects of tobacco use.The warnings should be 50% or more of the principal display areas,but shall be no less than 30% of the display areas,and include pictorial warnings.
The Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report,released during WHOs FCTC meeting in Uruguay this week,has reviewed both signatories and non-signatories to the Convention and found that at least 39 countries now have pictorial warnings with many more countries in the process of doing so.India,where 2,500 people die daily due to use of tobacco,has put off introduction of strong and gory pictorial warnings till December 1.
Shoba John,chairperson,Framework Convention Alliance,said,India was at the forefront of demanding effective and visible picture-based health warnings on tobacco packs at the negotiations of FCTC in 2003.It is regretful that India occupies the 100th position among countries with health warnings.
India was required to implement pictorial health warningswithin three years of coming into force of the FCTCon February 27,2008.Though it had already notified field tested effective pictorial health warnings in July 2006,a set of mild and ineffective warnings were introduced from May 31,2009,which was more than 15 months after the treaty deadline.The warnings are to be rotated every 12 months,for which a new set of field tested pictorial health warnings were notified in March.However,their implementationthat was due on June 1,2010was deferred to December 1,2010.
Indias tobacco package warning covers only 40% of front panel and none on the back as compared to Uruguay,where it covers 80% of both front and back of cigarette packets.Thailand,Maldives,Pakistan and Bangladesh are placed higher than India in these rankings.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India Report 2010 estimates that currently 5.7% adults smoke cigarettes.As per the report,32 countries need warnings to cover at least 50% of packets front and back,and at least 95 must do it by at least 30%.The new notified warnings to appear from December 1 were finalized after the field testing.