Andhra MP objects to FCTC guidelines – and he’s yet to cop the results of CoP5

The Andhra Pradesh MP, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, has written to the Indian Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, objecting to the implementation of guidelines drawn up by the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), according to a story in the most recent issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

Rao said that enforcement of the guidelines in India would adversely impact tobacco production and trade in the country.

He highlighted the effect of the FCTC guideline that sought to regulate the content of tobacco products and one requiring the disclosure of ingredients.

And he said that the FCTC policies would cause cigarette smuggling inIndiaand lead to the criminalization of the cigarette trade.

The FCTC’s fifth Conference of the Parties is due to meet next month at Seoul, South Korea, to discuss guidelines aimed directly at reducing tobacco production around the world.