Latest addition will be insertion of the word “warning” in red font on the tobacco packs In an effort to curb tobacco abuse in India, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has notified a new set of warnings to be depicted on tobacco product packs with effect from April next year. The latest addition will be the insertion of the word “warning” in red font on the tobacco packs. Also, a provision has been added to ensure a ratio is maintained between the vertical and horizontal length of the health warning to avoid distortion with the change in the size of packs. A statement issued by the Ministry on Monday noted: “Well-designed health warnings and messages are part of a range of measures to communicate health risks due to tobacco use. Pictorial health warnings communicate health risks in a visible way, provoke a greater emotional response and increase the motivation of tobacco users to quit and to decrease their tobacco consumption.” It added that graphic warning labels have greater impact than text-only labels especially when it comes to low literacy audiences and children. Tobacco use is amongst the biggest cause of death, disease and disability in India. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India Report 2009-10, among the 34.6 per cent current adult (15 plus age group) tobacco users, 25.9 per cent use smokeless form of tobacco (206 million users). Out of this, 30.7 per cent are rural and 15.0 per cent are urban users. Among the 20.3 per cent of female tobacco users, 18.4 per cent use smokeless forms of tobacco. India ratified the WHO’s — Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004, under which the Government is committed to implement pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. Article 11 of the FCTC recommends pictorial health warnings as an effective strategy for reducing tobacco demand. Voluntary Health Association of India’s (an organisation working against tobacco abuse in India) executive director Bhavna Mukhopadhyay said: “Health warnings are meant to alert, encourage and support tobacco users in their decision to give up the use of tobacco. The warnings are also intended to reach non-users including children and young people to discourage tobacco uptake. The health warnings will assist the government to address their responsibility of educating its citizens on the serious health effects of tobacco use in an easy and the most cost-effective manner.” “Ratio between vertical and horizontal length of warning to be maintained” “Graphic warning labels have greater impact than text-only labels”