The I&B Ministry came out with a statement today stating that the Health Ministry had agreed to amend its previous notification, issued in October last year, over which there had been a disagreement between the two sides.
"The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in consultation with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, has agreed to amend the Notification issued vide GSR 786(E) dated 27.10.2011 regarding steps to be taken by the film industry while depicting smoking scenes in their films," the I&B statement said.
As per provisions of the amended draft notification agreed to by the two Ministries, anti-tobacco health spots of minimum 30 seconds shall be displayed at the beginning and middle of the films displaying tobacco products or their use.
An audio-visual disclaimer of minimum 20-second duration on the ill-effects of tobacco use shall be also displayed at the beginning and middle of these films.
"Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has agreed to bear all the costs relating to production of such health spots and disclaimers," the I&B statement said.
The spots and disclaimers prepared by the Health Ministry will be provided to the Central Board of Film Certification in digital beta format for distribution to the filmmakers at the time of their application for certification, it said. (More)
