Tobacco Control

price based GST cess rate for pan masala, tobacco

The government has specified the retail sale price-based GST cess rate that would be levied on pan masala and tobacco manufacturers with effect from April 1. This is a departure from the earlier regime that imposed cess, over and above the 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on ad-valorem basis. As per a finance ministry notification dated March 31, the GST cess rate that would be applicable on pan masala is 0.32 times the retail sale price (RSP) of the pan masala pouch. Pan masala, containing tobacco gutkha, now has a cess rate of 0.61 times the RSP, while the rate for smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes is 0.69 times. Chewing tobacco , filter khaini, and jarda scented tobacco attract a cess of 0.56 times the RSP, and the rate for branded unmanufactured tobacco and hookah or gudaku is 0.36 times the RSP. The new rates are applicable from April 1, 2023. Moving to RSP-based levy would mean that manufacturers would now have to pay the cess on the final retail price o

Bengaluru honoured with $150,000 global award for tobacco control efforts

Bengaluru is among five global cities that have been recognised for achievements in preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, with the Indian tech city's efforts in tobacco control winning a USD 150,000 award by a leading global initiative supported by the WHO. Bengaluru was honoured on Wednesday with the 2023 Partnership for Healthy Cities Award, along with Montevideo in Uruguay; Mexico City, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada and Athens, Greece, at the inaugural Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit held in London, a statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. The cities were recognised for positively impacting the health of their population and making sustainable and lasting strides toward NCD and injury prevention that can be replicated in other jurisdictions. According to the statement, the five winning cities each received USD 150,000 to further their work with the partnership. The Karnataka capital was awarded for its efforts in tobacco control, specifically

FDA takes action against 144 establishments since April in Maharashtra

A total of 175 establishments have been checked and action has been taken against 144 since April this year for various violations of rules and regulations, an official of the Konkan division of the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday. FDA Joint Commissioner Suresh Deshmukh said raids were conducted in Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, which are part of the Konkan division. "Gutkha and tobacco products worth Rs. 2,92,01,518 were seized. At least 60 FIRs have been registered at various police stations. We have sealed 129 establishments and five vehicles have been confiscated," he said. "During 2021-22 a total of 105 establishments were inspected and action was taken against 99," he added.

Amendments to tobacco control law a step towards healthy India: BJP leader

Amendments to the tobacco control law COTPA can be a step towards realizing the dream of building a healthy and tobacco-free India, says BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan. The writer and law expert was speaking as part of an online discussion titled 'India's Resolution for a Healthy India, Tobacco Free India' organised by Tobacco Free India. Nearly 28 per cent of adults (aged 15 years and above) are known to consume tobacco products. Even more distressing is the fact that 9 per cent of children aged between 13 and 15 years of age consume tobacco in some form or the other. "We are sitting on a ticking timebomb and need to take quick action to ensure our demographic dividend does not convert into a demographic disaster, opined Paswan, who is also an author and Assistant Professor of law at Patna University. Youth and children are particularly vulnerable as the powerful tobacco lobby uses several methods such as surrogate advertising and placing ads at points-of-sale (PoS) to lure

Indians reluctant to stub it out with 186 million tobacco users

With over 186 million tobacco users in India, two in every three people who chew dry snuff tobacco the world over are Indians

Jharkhand to get WHO award for efforts in controlling tobacco consumption

Stata Tobacco Control Cell of the Health Department will receive the award on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi on May 31

Public health groups, docs urge govt to hike tobacco products' excise duty

In their appeals to the Finance Ministry, they have sought an increase in excise duty on cigarettes, bidis and smokeless tobacco

Hike tax on tobacco to reduce affordability, protect children: K'taka body

Consortium for Tobacco-Free Karnataka and other organizations working on tobacco regulation on Tuesday urged the GST council to hike the compensation cess on all tobacco products

Proposed tobacco control law amendments to increase illegal trade: Survey

The proposed amendments in the law regarding cigarettes and other tobacco products are more likely to increase illicit tobacco trade thus leading to more consumption rather than lessening it

Tobacco control needs to be pursued like mission, says Harsh Vardhan

Tobacco use is so interwoven in our society that untiring efforts are required to fight this epidemic and tobacco control needs to be pursued like a mission, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said

Inside the Philip Morris campaign to 'normalise' a tobacco device

The marketing strategy mimics that of tobacco companies in the mid-20th century, when they started associating cigarettes with Hollywood and high society

Govt's e-cigarette ban faces first legal challenge in Kolkata court

The government banned the sale, import and manufacture of e-cigarettes this month and warned of an "epidemic" among young people

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products do not help reduce cancer: WHO

The seventh "WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic" said blocking the industry's interference was critical to cutting the harm from tobacco use

Delhi govt debars tobacco control NGO over foreign funding, then blinks

While the situation for SEEDS turned around quickly and in their favour, this has not been the case for public health NGOs in India