The statutory warnings on cigarette packs which say “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health” will soon have to be increased in size and prominence, and occupy at least 30 per cent of space on the packet, according to a recent decision of the Central Government.

The decision was taken on May 31 to mark the World No-Tobacco Day, following a spate of petitions submitted by numerous non-governmental organizations (NGO), based in different parts of the country.

A notification to this effect is expected to be placed before two Houses of Parliament within a fortnight from now.

Following the release of the notification, the Indian Medical Association in collaboration with numerous NGO and support groups would be working towards making these initiatives implementable.

“This move by the Centre would strengthen the efforts put in by several NGO's and support groups to tackle the ill-effects of tobacco,” says Dr Nanda Shimpi, senior vice-president, IMA. According to her the new resolution would require the tobacco companies to visually present the warnings on a large space with a specified category under cancer. “They would be required to depict at least one sub-disease under Cancer and visually represent it with a statutory statement”, adds Dr Shimpi. This would play an integral part in refraining most of the tobacco users from using the harmful substance, feels Dr. Shimpi.

The other mandatory norm would be a total ban on tobacco companies from taking part and sponsoring any event or media activity. Though the ban was enforced less than a year ago, it was not being implemented as directed. “Now with the new resolution, such activities would be regularly monitored by the NGO's and support groups who in turn would inform the government on the indiscrepancies observed and on the action to be taken”, says Dr. Shimpi.

According to WHO estimates, the annual per capita tobacco consumption rose to over 63 per cent in 1997-98 as compared to over 57 per cent in 1996-97. Even the annual per capita cigarette consumption was recorded at 129 cigarette sticks in 1998 up from 114 cigarette sticks recorded in 1997.