A new report has revealed that pictorial warnings in tobacco products in India do not meet the internationally stipulated size parameters, at a time when health warnings on tobacco products have come to be recognised as a cost-effective means of communication.
Called ‘Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report’, it points out that pictorial warnings in packets of tobacco products in India fall short of the stipulated 50% of the display area, even after two rounds of revisions of warnings in 2009 and 2011.
The report released in the Conference of Parties to the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) that concluded in Seoul, South Korea on November 17, shows that health warnings in cigarette packets in India only cover 40% of the front face of the packet. Brought out by leading Canadian non-government organisation, Canadian Cancer Society in October 2012, it also brings out that India has fallen 23 places in the ranking of countries on depiction of health from 100 in 2010 to 123 in 2012.
Article 11 of World Health Organisation’s FCTC, which India ratified in 2004, requires that health warnings “should be 50% or more of the principal display areas but shall be no less than 30% of the display areas” – the principal display areas being front and back of the package. It further stipulates that such warnings should be applied to all categories of tobacco products.
India’s current pictorial warnings, notified by the Union Government in 2011 under Section 7 of the country’s tobacco control legislation – COTPA 2003, have designated picture and text warnings for smoking and smokeless tobacco products. In September, India brought out a revised set of warnings that will take effect from 1 April 2013.
On the relevance of pictorial warnings, the report that provides a ranking of 198 countries notes, “A picture really does say a thousand words. Pictures are especially important for individuals who are illiterate or who have low literacy. Pictures are also important to immigrants, temporary workers as well as individuals from minority language groups who may not yet be able to read the national language(s).”
The International Status Report also has that Australia leads the pack with pictorial warnings occupying an impressive 82.5% of the principal display area. India’s neighbour in the Asian region, Sri Lanka has notched up the second rank, with pictorial warnings covering 80% of the front and back covers of the packet. Thailand sells tobacco products with warnings spread over 55% on its front and the back faces.
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