The Centre should not step back on 85 per cent pictorial warnings (PWs) on tobacco products, experts said here today, while stressing that the move was required to save millions of lives in the country.
Addressing reporters here, a team of health experts said though the government had issued a notification on October 15, 2014, making it mandatory for tobacco firms to display graphic health warning occupying 85 per cent of the principal display area of all tobacco packs, it was yet to come into force.
Recently, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (COSL) presented a conflicting report recommending 50 per cent PWs on both sides of cigarettes packets.
Experts said they were of the feeling that 50 per cent warnings was not enough as various studies have proved that larger warning on tobacco products does curb people from getting addicted to such products.
Noted oncologist and member of Karnataka government high power committee on tobacco control, Vishal Rao said he had attended the COSL meeting to convey his point of view about the need for consumer awareness as a right to health.
He emphasised that the government should be committed to reducing the advertisments by tobacco companies which lure consumers to addiction and pave way for consumer awareness of harms through increased pictorial warning.
On the COSL report, neuro surgeon and member of Lok Satta party Banu Prakash said it was "a compromised" report and the Union government need not consider it at all.
Health expert Dr Upendra Bhojani from the Institute of Public Health said this simple step by the government, sticking to 85 per cent health warning on tobacco products, if taken before this April, can save millions of lives in the country.
He said beedi baron and MP Shyam Charan Gupta being a member of the CoSL itself was a conflict of interest and rendered this report biased.
Advocate Jayna Kothari detailed on the legal aspects of the tobacco control and said various orders of the supreme court and high courts of Karnataka, Rajasthan have highlighted the need for larger warnings on tobacco product to keep away users, especially youngsters.
The experts said various organisations across the country, including the Association of Physicians of India, have sent letters to Union health ministry in this regard.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader in a letter to the Union Health Minister appreciated the Centre for the steps taken to battle tobacco menace but urged it not to step back on its decision on the PWs, according to the Institute of Public Health statement.
