The Supreme Court has refused to ban the notification issued by the central government regarding the tobacco product. The Center issued notification regarding giving graphic warnings on tobacco and cigarette packets. The court has also refused to ban the government’s decision in which a helpline number will be written to help people who want to quit tobacco.
The Central Government had amended the Cigarette and Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Act, 2008 in April, following which, a helpline number will be written on the new packets of cigarette and tobacco products in India from September and simultaneously a pictorial and written cautionary message will be issued.
This warning will cover 85 percent of the packet.
It has been said in the notification issued by the Centre that new packets will be printed with bigger font message reading, ‘Tobacco causes painful death’ and ‘Tobacco causes cancer.’
This warning will be written in white letters with red background. The toll free helpline number 1800112356 will be written with white letters over black colour background.
The helpline number 1800112356 was launched by the government on May 31, 2016 and it is called Quit Line Number. It helps those people who want to quit tobacco.
