Advertising ban to be enforced in Kerala

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has pledged that his state will soon put a stop to the advertising of tobacco products in line with India’s Tobacco Control Act 2003, according to a story in the most recent issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

A directive seeking enforcement of the advertising provisions of the act was reportedly sent by the union health secretary to all of India’s state chief secretaries.

Kerala recently declared that retail outlets selling cigarettes may not provide matches or lighters to people wishing to smoke in the vicinity of the outlets.