India
Latest India Headlines
Bidis more lethal than cigarettes: Health ministry, The Statesman
14 May 2008
Report: Bidis killing 6 million a year, The Times of India
13 May 2008
First study reveals bidi's role as India's silent killer, Indian Express
13 May 2008
See the latest information about the status of tobacco policies and facts about the tobacco epidemic in India:
India is the world’s third largest tobacco producing country after China and Brazil. 46.6% of males and 16.8% of females are smokers. Of the 280 million smokers in India, only about 28 million smoke cigarettes. More traditional forms of tobacco products are consumed throughout the country, such as, bidis, gutka and chewing tobacco. Bidi smokers are 10 times as prevalent as cigarette smokers in India.
India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 5, 2004. Smoking is not permitted in certain public places. Smokers are restricted from smoking in hospital buildings, health centers, amusement parks, public offices, court buildings, educational institutions, and other public buildings. Building authorities must prominently display a message stating that smoking is an offense. Tobacco companies have worked diligently to undermine India’s smoke-free policy. Godfrey-Phillips (a PM affiliate) provides mobile smoking lounges where smokers over 18 can smoke in air-conditioned lounge vehicles.
Tobacco products are heavily taxed and in particular cigarettes are most heavily taxed as opposed to traditional tobacco products. Cigarette tax accounts for 90% of the government’s revenue from tobacco taxes.
Existing legislation prohibits tobacco advertisements for all forms of media. Cigarette packs sold in India contain the statutory warning: “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.” Legislation requiring pictorial warnings will take effect late in 2007.
Sources: WHO, Euromonitor, ACS: Tobacco Atlas (second edition), Internal correspondence, FCA
Related Information
American Cancer Society Tobacco Control Country Profile, India
Healis - Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health
HRIDAY – SHAN (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth
Resource Center for a Tobacco-Free India: An initiative of Voluntary Health Association of India
The Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control Country Data, India
Report, Articles & Studies
Report: India Should Increase Tax Rates on Bidis (2008)
Report: Smoking and Death in India, Centre for Global Health Research (2008)
Tobacco Control Groups - India
- Action Council Against Tobacco
- Association for Consumers Action on Safety and Health (ACASH) (India)
- Burning Brain Society
- Cancer Institute (India)
- Community Health Cell (India)
- Consumer Education and Research Centre (India)
- Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Government of Delhi, Department of Health and Family Welfare
- HEALIS – Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health
- Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY)
- Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association
- Mary Anne Charity Trust (MACT)
- National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE)
- Pasumai Thaayagam Foundation
- Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF)
- School of Preventative Oncology, Patna (India)
- Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)
- Women's Action Research and Legal Action for Women (WARLOW)
Relevant Laws
Warning labels must appear on all Indian tobacco products; December 1, 2007
Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act; May 18, 2003
Prohibition of tobacco smoking in public places; May 7, 1990
Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act; October 2, 1997