The Union health ministry directive that all tobacco products sold in the country carry pictorial warnings from May 31, went almost unimplemented in large parts of Chennai on Sunday.

A few days ago, Additional Solicitor –General Gopal Subramaniam gave an undertaking to a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice B N Agrawal saying the government would make it mandatory for every tobacco company to carry the pictorial warning on cigarette packets from May 31, World No Tobacco Day.

According to the cigarette and tobacco products (packaging and labelling) rules issued by the Union government, all cigarette and tobacco packs should carry pictorial messages and a revised statutory warning, “smoking kills and tobacco causes cancer ” on 40% of the principal display area.

“I brought a cigarette packet thinking I would see a gory picture. But there was nothing. When I asked the shop keeper, he was not even aware of the rule, ” said N Sudarshan of Mylapore.

Some shopkeepers were found selling cigarettes by hiding them inside dustbins. “We thought police squads would be checking our shops to see whether pictorial warnings against smoking had been printed on tobacco packs. Bbut no one came and we had sales as normal by evening,” said Irudayakumar, who runs a shop near central railway station.

Some others were sure that the measure would not be followed. “In 2008, the Union government imposed a ban on smoking in public places and it was not followed. So I did not expect any warning on the packet, ” said N Anand of Mylapore.

The traders' union had claimed that it had convinced most of the shops not to sell tobacco on World No Tobacco Day' that falls on May 31. But the sale continued without any hindrance. “One cigarette fetches us a meagre profit and the sales are high compared to those of other products. So we cannot stop it for some political motive,” said Irudayakumar.

However, the association members said they did not make it mandatory for shops not to sell cigarettes on Sunday. “Now only the government has announced the decision. Some time should be given for it to be implemented, ” said Tamil Nadu Traders Union president T Vellayan.

So far, more than 9,600 people have been fined for smoking in public places resulting in a revenue of Rs 11.44 lakh for the state government. “Only if there is co–operation from politicians, traders and the public can we pull up those smoking in public places. If the pictorial warning is not printed on the pack, the manufacturer can be fined up to Rs 5,000 with or without two years imprisonment. The dealer or seller can be fined up to Rs 1,000 with or without a year's imprisonment. If the offence is repeated, the fine amount will be raised to Rs 10,000 for the manufacturer with or without five years' imprisonment, and up to Rs 3,000 for the dealer or seller with or without two years' imprisonment,” said a police official.


Source: Times of India