On Friday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced a new set of health warnings associated with tobacco product packs. Under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, an amendment was made in 2008.

The new rules will come into effect from December 1, 2022. The ministry has also introduced a new image to be pasted on tobacco and cigarette products with a text warning “Tobacco Causes Painful Death.”

Moreover, the ministry has made it clear that any person indulged directly or indirectly in the production, supply, trade or distribution of cigarettes or other tobacco products will ensure that all such product packages will have the specified health warnings as prescribed with no modification.

Any rule violation will be considered a punishable offence under the law, thus inviting imprisonment, a fine, or both.