Guwahati: Tobacco products will have a new label and a warning message beginning on December 1, 2022, the Union Health Ministry announced on Friday.
According to reports, tobacco goods made, imported, or packaged after December 1 would include the warning “Tobacco causes painful death.” Additionally, new images that are good for a year will be included in packs.
According to the ministry, the image will also include a textual health warning. “Tobacco users die younger,” will be the phrase in the warning.
The new health warnings were announced by the ministry through an update to the 2008 guidelines for the packaging and labelling of cigarettes and other tobacco products, dated July 21, 2022.
The modification will take effect on December 1, 2022.
The notification from the ministry is available on the websites: mohfw.gov.in and ntcp.nhp.gov.in in 19 languages.
The ministry further said in its statement that a person involved either directly or indirectly in the manufacture, production, supply, import and distribution of cigarettes or any other tobacco products will have to ensure that all tobacco product packages have the specified health warnings as prescribed.
Any violation of the guidelines is punishable and 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 ministry added.