Warnings will direly affect livelihood: TII

The Tobacco Institute of India claimed that the “extreme” 85 per cent warnings on cigarette packets will “promote illegal cigarette trade and adversely affect the livelihood of 45.7 million people who are dependent on tobacco, which included farmers, labour, workers, trade and others”. TII alleged that the tobacco control policies “appear to be directed by NGOs and anti tobacco activists who are funded by overseas vested interests.”

It said that the top five tobacco producing countries that account for 90 per cent of global tobacco production have an average warning size of 20 per cent. “The existing pictorial warnings at 40 per cent of the front of the pack are adequate to warn and caution consumers,” said TII.

Earlier, the Rajasthan high court had also ordered the government to implement its notification of having warnings covering 85 per cent of display area.