Gaps in COTPA ACT making it ineffective, NLSIU report

The NLSIU report said that tobacco advertisements and products are prominently displayed in stores and kiosks despite a ban on advertising.

Hyderabad: A report titled ‘Tobacco Control Law in India – Origins and Proposed Reforms’ released on Wednesday by National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has said that gaps in Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA 2003) were making it ineffective for regulating tobacco consumptions and exposure to second hand smoke in India.

The NLSIU report said that tobacco advertisements and products are prominently displayed in stores and kiosks despite a ban on advertising. Existing penalties under COTPA 2003 were not sufficient and sale of single stick cigarettes and other loose tobacco products continued to be the norm in India.

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The report proposed to prohibit designated smoking areas by removing the provision that allows for any smoking areas or spaces, prohibit all point of sale advertising, tobacco product displays in stores and kiosks etc.

“The report recommends legislative reforms based on the global public health treaty, to which India is a signatory as well as best practices adopted by other countries. We hope the government will consider these recommendations while proposing a comprehensive COTPA Amendment Bill”,” said Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice Chancellor, NLSIU.

 

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