India to impose 85 percent warnings on April 1

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry of India said on Monday that tobacco-pack health warnings would be increased in size from April 1, according to a story in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

The warnings, which were said currently to take up 40 percent of the pack surface, are due to be increased to 85 percent, of which 60 percent will comprise graphic images and 25 percent textural messages.

The government decided in 2014 to increase the size of tobacco-pack warnings by April 2015, but in March it deferred implementation of the regulation because a parliamentary panel said it was still reviewing how the industry would be impacted by the requirement for bigger health warnings.

However, the High Court of Rajasthan, hearing a Public Interest Litigation petition, in July directed the federal government to implement the new regulations by September 29.