New Specified Health Warning on Tobacco Products packs

Health warnings from December 2022

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 vide GSR 592 (E) dated 21st July, 2022 “The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Third Amendment Rules, 2022”. The amended Rules will be applicable w.e.f. 1st December, 2022. 

The new set of specified health warnings shall be-

Image-1, shall be valid for a period of twelve months following its commencement from 1st December, 2022.

Image-2, which shall come into effect following the end of twelve months from the date of commencement of specified health warning of Image-1. 

The said notification alongwith the soft or printable version of the specified health warnings in 19 languages are available on the websites www.mohfw.gov.in and ntcp.nhp.gov.in 

Health warnings from December 2020

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 vide GSR 458 (E) dated 21st July, 2020 “The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Third Amendment Rules, 2020”. The amended Rules will be applicable w.e.f. 1st December, 2020. The existing specified health warning (Image-2) shall continue till 30th November, 2020.

Image-1, shall be valid for a period of twelve months following its commencement from 1st December, 2020.

Image-2, which shall come into effect following the end of twelve months from the date of commencement of specified health warning of Image-1.

Health warnings from September 2020

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 vide GSR 248(E) dated 13th April 2020 “The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2020”. The amended Rules will be applicable w.e.f. 1st September 2020.

The new set of specified health warnings shall be-

Image-1, shall be valid for a period of twelve months following its commencement from 1st September, 2020.

Image-2, which shall come into effect following the end of twelve months from the date of commencement of specified health warning of Image-1.

The said notification alongwith the soft or printable version of the specified health warnings in 19 languages are available on the websites www.mohfw.gov.in and www.ntcp.nhp.gov.in

In view of the above, it is informed that;

• All tobacco products manufactured or imported or packaged on or after 1st September, 2020 shall display Image -1 and those manufactured or imported or packaged on or after 1st September, 2021 shall display Image-2.
• Any person engaged directly or indirectly in the manufacture, production, supply, import or distribution of cigarettes or any tobacco products shall ensure that all tobacco product packages shall have the specified health warnings exactly as prescribed.
• Violation of the above mentioned provision is a punishable offence with imprisonment or fine as prescribed in Section 20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. The definition of “package” has been amended to be in conformity with the Act and the Rules made thereunder.

Health warnings until September 2020

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008 vide GSR 331(E) dated 3^rd April 2018 "Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Second Amendment Rules, 2018".

The amended Rules is applicable w.e.f. 1^st September 2018.

Features of the specified health warnings

One of the most important key features of the new set of specified health warnings will include telephone Quit-line number "QUIT TODAY CALL 1800-11-2356". This will help in creating awareness among tobacco users, and give them access to counseling services to effect behavior change. It is also likely to lead to an increase in demand for tobacco cessation. Further, now the same set of warning images shall be on both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco products.

The toll free Tobacco Quit-line Services (1800-11-2356) provides counseling and strategies for quitting tobacco use. As per the second round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS -2, 2016-17) conducted in the age group 15 years and above, 61.9% of current cigarette smokers, 53.8% of current bidi smokers and 46.2% of current smokeless tobacco users thought about quitting because of warning label on packets of cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco.

New set of warnings

The new set of specified health warnings shall be-

Image-1, valid for the period of twelve months beginning 1st September 2018.

Image-2, which shall come into effect following the end of twelve months from the date of commencement of specified health warning of Image-1 ie. effective from 1st September 2019.

The open files of the image in all regional languages may be obtained from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through making a request at ntcp.mohfw@gmail.com and/or 011-23062868.

Source : MoH&FW