Increasing size of pictorial warning 'anti-farmer': TII

A body repesenting tobacco farmers, manufacturers and exporters today termed as "excessive" and "anti-farmer" the recommendations of a parliamentary panel for increasing the size of pictorial warning on tobacco products, saying it aimed at "pleasing" the anti-tobacco activists many of whom are espousing the cause with "vested" interest.
The Parliamentary panel's recommendations, which urged the government to raise the warning size to 50 per cent, evoked sharp criticism, with Tobacco Institute of India (TII) terming them as "large and gruesome" which will have devastating consequences on millions of people who are dependent on the industry.
The Union Health Ministry had recommended that the size of pictorial warning be raised to 85 per cent, which the Parliamentary Panel suggested to be brought down to 50 per cent.

"The recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation for 50 per cent pictorial warnings on both sides of cigarette packaging constitute a 250 per cent increase on the existing 40 per cent warning on the front of the pack.
"The recommendations of the committee are excessive and do not appear to have recognised the devastating consequences of large warnings on the livelihood of millions that are dependent on the tobacco industry," TII said in a statement.
A parliamentary panel today termed as "too harsh" the proposed 85 per cent pictorial warnings on tobacco products and recommended a drastic reduction in size, evoking sharp criticism from MPs and health experts.

With Health Ministry's April 1 deadline for implementing the 85 per cent warning just days away, Chairman of the Committee on Subordinate Legislations Dilip Gandhi justified the recommendations, saying the size of the warnings have been urged to be increased from present 40 to 50 per cent.
"Before introduction of 40 per cent pictorial warnings in India in 2009, a Group of Ministers had examined, deliberated and consulted extensively on the issue of size of the warning and its consequences before making its recommendation.
"A change on the GOM recommended warning appears to be directed at pleasing the anti-tobacco activists, many of whom are espousing the cause of vested interests. We understand that many of these activists are funded by organisations based in the US where surprisingly till date there is no pictorial warning," it said.