tobacco products will display an image with the warning written over it "tobacco users die younger", the ministry said, adding that the new amendments have been made under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 dated 21st July, 2022, which will be applicable from December 1, 2022.
The image with health warning “Tobacco causes painful death" shall be valid for a period of twelve months following its commencement from December 1, 2022, while the image with warning “Tobacco users die younger" shall come into effect following the end of twelve months from the date of commencement of specified health warning of first one.
In an official statement, the ministry said any person directly or indirectly engaged in the manufacture, production, supply, import, or distribution of any kind of tobacco products will have to ensure that all tobacco product packages have the specified health warnings as prescribed. “The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Third Amendment Rules, 2022.
The amended rules will be applicable with effect from December 1, 2022," the health ministry stated. It said that any kind of violation of these health guidelines is a punishable offence with imprisonment or fine as prescribed in Section 20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, adding that adding that the existing specified health warning shall continue till 30 November, 2022.