A panel of Indian lawmakers will call for smaller health warnings on cigarette packs, saying the government's requirement of 85 percent of surface area is too harsh on the tobacco industry, sources who have seen the panel's draft report said. The decision is the latest twist in a tussle between the health ministry, which wants to step up an anti-smoking campaign, in line with the rest of the world, and members of parliament who fear lower sales will hurt tobacco farmers.
Tobacco use is linked to 900,000 deaths every year in India, and the government had ordered manufacturers to print health warnings covering 85 percent of the surface of a cigarette pack, up from 20 percent now. But the parliamentary committee has suggested in its report that the warnings be limited to half the packs' surface area, as a move to protect tobacco farmers' interests, while promoting
health. The panel feels "a balanced approach" would be to keep the warning size at 50 percent, according to two sources who have seen the report, but asked not to be identified because the draft is not public.
Euromonitor International estimates India's cigarette market was worth $9 billion in 2014. Leading players include ITC Ltd , VST Industries and Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, a partner of U.S.-based Philip Morris International. The Canadian Cancer Society ranks India 136th out of 198 countries that use warnings to deter smokers, lagging nations such as Australia and Thailand that top the list. (Source: Reuters)
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