Minister bows to pressure over regulatory changes

The Indian government seems likely to defer the introduction of amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, one of which would have prohibited the sale of single cigarettes, according to a story in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

Earlier, the Health Ministry had seemed inclined to go ahead with the amendments, which had been recommended by an expert panel.

However, the government came under pressure from tobacco manufacturers, tobacco growers and areca nut growers.

And then the health ministry came under pressure from other ministries, which urged caution until inter-ministerial consultations could be held and until issues relating to the identification of alternative crops to tobacco were resolved.

The health minister was apparently told that the proposed regulatory amendments would not curtail tobacco use but result only in a shift in consumption patterns towards cheaper tobacco products.

He agreed to consider all matters pertaining to tobacco growers and the tobacco industry before making any policy changes.