Mandatory pictorial warnings on tobacco products soon

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said that the government was committed to making mandatory the pictorial warnings on the packs of tobacco products.

"The pictorial warnings on the packs of tobacco-related products are going to come definitely," he told reporters on the sidelines of a health conference here.

"The enforcement was supposed to come into force on December 1, but since the case is pending in the (Himachal Pradesh) high court, the government will wait for the judgment," he said.

"The court has said it (the campaign) cannot be enforced till December 13. We are waiting for the judgment. After that, we will know what course of action to take," he said.

He had recently rued that his fight against the use of tobacco products was facing opposition from various quarters, which had the "backing of tobacco companies".

The minister parried questions on the ongoing controversy over the AIIMS (Amendment) Act, 2007 which fixed the age limit of the institutes's director at 65 years and the subsequent removal of P Venugopal from the coveted post.