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Soon, Cabinet note banning sale of loose cigarettes 12/21/2014 10:52:35 PM Agencies NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Despite facing opposition from some quarters of the NDA, the health ministry has so far maintained its initial stand favouring ban on sale of loose cigarettes in India along with raising the minimum age of those who can be sold tobacco products to 25 years from the current 18. Soon, the ministry is likely to float a Cabinet note proposing the same, a senior official said. "We are working on a Cabinet note, which will be circulated very soon. If there are any concerns raised by the concerned ministries, they will be addressed thereafter," the official, privy to developments, said. Recently, there were reports the government had deferred the decision to ban sale of loose cigarettes following opposition from some NDA MPs, who had met health minister JP Nadda and parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu, raising concern about the adverse impact on livelihoods of tobacco farmers due to the move. Earlier in November, Nadda informed the Rajya Sabha the government has accepted a new tougher framework for tobacco sale as part of recommendations of an expert panel. The panel suggested a ban on the sale of unpackaged cigarettes as well as a proposal to raise the minimum age of those who can be sold tobacco products from 18 to 25 years. The objecting MPs had suggested the government must provide alternative crops to tobacco farmers for their sustenance and then think of bringing amendments to the law. India is one of the major tobacco growing countries. The cash crop generates around Rs 6,000 crore annually from exports. However, public health groups and experts said regulatory intervention along with stricter law is required to deter people from smoking. A new study conducted by World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Office for India and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health also showed state-level laws banning gutka having a positive impact as there is reduced product availability and a decrease in consumption of gutka. The study, conducted across seven states and the national capital region (NCR) revealed 92% support for gutka ban. "These findings have a strong message that regulatory mechanisms are effective and can have a positive impact on the consumption pattern," Dr Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India, said.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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