Noose to be tightened against the sale of Flavored/Scented Tobacco

E-cigarettes and running of Hookah bars in Punjab: Vini Mahajan
Chandigarh, March 9, 2017: A Meeting to review National Tobacco Control Program (Punjab) and implementation of ban on E Cigarettes/ Chewable Tobacco by video conference was held on 23rd February 2017 under Chairpersonship of Ms Vini Mahajan Additional Chief Secretary (Health).
Ms Vini Mahajan in a video conference with the district health officials said that no leniency should be shown against the violators and must be dealt with an iron hand. As per the media reports Flavored/Scented Tobacco is easily available in Punjab as elsewhere in most of the states. Strict action will be taken under FSSAI by FSO, material will be seized and a court Challans will be issued. Anyone found smoking at public places, selling tobacco to and by the minors and selling tobacco within the radius of 100 yards of the educational institutes will be dealt with strict action and fine up to Rs 200 will be imposed on the violators.
Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Sh. Hussan Lal said that strict action will be against those selling Flavored/Scented tobacco. As Punjab has banned the sale and distribution of Flavored/scented chewable tobacco in the state. Sale of E cigarettes and running of Hookah Bars will also be on the radar of health authorities.
Dr. H. S. Bali said that according to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16 (NFHS-4), the tobacco use among men in Punjab state declined from 33.8% (NFHS-3) to 19.2% (NFHS-4) and in women from 0.8% to 0.1% during last 10 years which is lowest among all the states of the country. Punjab is the only state where implementation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act/ Food Safety & Standard Act of India and COTPA is being monitored monthly at State by Government and at District Level by Deputy Commissioners
Dr. Rakesh Gupta told that all the districts of Punjab have been declared as 'Tobacco Smoke Free' (TSF) on the basis of compliance study. But in order to create awareness and to alert the people, all the health institutions have been declared as Tobacco free institutions in which no one is allowed to carry tobacco products inside the health institutions. Tobacco cessation services are being provided at all the district, Sub divisional hospitals and drug de-addiction centers of the Punjab. Recently a reputed media house has declared its campus as tobacco free, under the special initiative by the health department, Punjab. Strict enforcement of Anti Tobacco policy under Films and TV rules is also being planned so that cinema houses comply with the law.