– Road towards a Tobacco Free Punjab

Dr. Rakesh K Gupta,

State Programme Officer, National Tobacco Control, Program

(NTCP), Punjab

As per GATS 2010 report, about 12% of population in Punjab uses Tobacco in any form.

Considering the population of 2.75 Crores, About 25 lakh adult population in Punjab uses Tobacco in some form or the other.

About 50 citizens of Punjab out of more than 3000 Indians die every day due to tobacco use………

Prevalence of Tobacco Use in Punjab

Tobacco Prevalence in Punjab

Tobacco Smoke Free Districts of Punjab

• Under the campaign of making Punjab Tobacco Smoke Free : – All the districts of Punjab have been declared as

'Tobacco Smoke Free' (TSF) on the basis of compliance study report by School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh.

– Hoshiarpur City was declared as the first COTPA compliant city of Punjab

81.4 84.1

85.7 86.1

87.9 88.5

93.25 93.6 93.8

96.1

91.3

96.4

88.8 89.1 89.5

96.7

87.6 88.2

95.3

91.04

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

SAS N

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Sri Mu

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Tobacco Smoke Free Districts of Punjab

MAIN OUTCOMES (IN TERMS OF SEC-4,SEC 6) % OF

COMPLIANCE AS REPORTED BY PGI CHANDIGARH

No Smoking Signages

No Smoking Signages

State/District Level Activities

• Every year 31st May is celebrated as “World No Tobacco Day”.

• This year on World No Tobacco Day the focus in Punjab is on Tobacco Free Educational Institutions

• Meeting of State level Coordination Committee held under the Chairpersonship of Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Punjab on 03-02-2014 , 27-11-14 and Chaired by Hon’ble HM Pb on 16/4/15

• Monthly monitoring at State level in Civil Surgeons’ Conference and at District level in District Health Society.

• Guidelines for implementation of "Smoke Free Rules" and Health Workers Guide released on 20-4-13.

• Section 5 (Tobacco Advertisement Point of Sale) of COTPA is also being implemented simultaneously. Survey has been done in all the districts to assess the implementation. The implementation has been found to be satisfactory.

• Meeting of Consultation to develop Guidelines and Protocol for Action against Sale of Loose Cigarettes/Tobacco and advertisement of Tobacco Products was held on 25-06-2015 under chairpersonship of Secretary Health cum Commissioner FDA, Punjab .

State/District Level Activities Contd…….

The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their

roles are as follows:-

Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles

1.

Principal Secretary /Secretary

(Health and Family Welfare) or

MD NRHM as Member

Secretary

Regular monitoring, review and supervision of National Tobacco

Control Programme

2. Principal Secretary (Home) his

nominee

Direct the State Police Heads to enforce all the provisions

under COTPA

Regular review of COTPA implementation in the monthly crime review

meetings and regular collection of violation

Related data.

3.

Principal Secretary (School /

Higher Education) or his

nominee

Implementation of tobacco-free school guidelines in all schools.

Make all schools tobacco-free premises.

Inclusion of harmful effects of tobacco use in the school curriculum

4. Principal Secretary /Secretary

(Finance) or his nominee

Administration and harmonization of Tax on all tobacco products.

Ensure reduction in illicit trade and tax evasion by tobacco industry.

5 Secretary Labour / Labour

commissioner or his nominee

Ensure that all tobacco products manufactured in

Registered factories print the pictorial health warnings.

Sensitization of Bidi Rollers about the health hazards of bidi rolling

Vocational training to bidi rollers for alternative livelihood.

The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their roles are as

follows:-

Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles

6.

Secretary Transport/Transport

Commissioner or his nominee

All public transport vehicles to be Smoke free / Tobacco- free.

No direct/indirect advertisement of tobacco products like Gutkha , Pan

masala on state transport bus panels and its premises. Display of anti-

tobacco messages on the Transport department properties including

bus panels, bus stands, bus tickets etc

7.

Divisional Manager (Ambala

Cant & Ferozpur) from

Department of Railways

All the railway platforms, its premises and trains to be tobacco free.

No sale of Gutkha, Pan masala and other tobacco production railway

platforms and trains. Display of anti-tobacco messages on the railway

properties including train panels, platform , railway tickets etc.

8. Secretary Public Relations/

Information or his nominee

State wide public awareness campaigns on harmful effects of tobacco

use and provisions under COTPA. Develop awareness campaign

materials for display at local events, melas, state IEC campaigns.

Assist in development/adaptation of local IEC campaign materials for

display and dissemination at local events, melas, local IEC campaigns.

9

Ms.Bhavna Mukhopadhyay,

Executive Director Voluntary

Health Association of India

(VHAI)

Integrate tobacco control in all their ongoing interventions.

Monitor violations of tobacco control laws and bring them to the

notice of Authorities/steering committee. Collaborate with State

Government/Local Government on Awareness generation. Work with

the Communities and CBOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban

Local Bodies to create awareness against tobacco use and strengthen

the implementation of COTPA.

Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles

10

1 Mr.Varun Roojam

IAS,DC Jalandhar

2 Mr. Amit Dhaka, IAS,

D.C Mansa

Represent District Administration and highlight the

concerns of the implementation at District level.

11 Secretary (Law) or his

nominee

Advise the state level committee on legal issues pertaining

to implementation of COTPA.

12. Secretary (Panchayati

Raj) or his nominee

Enforcement of COTPA through the 3-tier elected,

Panchayati Raj Institution in the rural areas.

13 MD NRHM as Member

Secretary Member Secretary for convening the meeting.

The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their roles are as

follows:-

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN

PUNJAB

MPOWER

Action Area Present Status

Monitor the

tobacco

epidemic

GATS- 2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Tobacco prevalence data is available from: National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-Expenditure surveys such as National Sample

Survey Organization (NSSO) Global Youth Tobacco Survey Compliance surveys performed by School of Public Health, PGI Chandigarh in all 22

districts

Protect people

from tobacco

smoke (Section

4 of COTPA)

“The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) , Prohibits Smoking in all Public Places.

All the districts have already been declared as “Tobacco Smoke Free Districts” on the basis of Compliance Study by the School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Regular monthly monitoring of implementation of COTPA. Permanent District level Task Force has been constituted in all the districts for monitoring

of COTPA and abuse of Nicotine January 2013 to Dec 2013, 22099 violators have been challaned. In the year 2014, 22,834 violators have been Challaned wef Jan.to December 14. In January to May 2015, 12316 violators have been Challaned .

Govt. of Punjab issued DO letters to all the Deputy Commissioners & Civil Surgeons to promulgate Section 144 against Hukkah bars as they violate all section of COTPA.

State Level Coordination Committee for Tobacco Control has been notified .and met three times

Chief Secretary Punjab has written a DO to all DCs for strict implementation of COTPA

MPOWER Action Area Present Status

Offer help to those who

want to quit

Limited trained manpower on cessation. De-addiction centres present in all Districts. They are providing cessation services. Orientation workshop of Psychiatrists and Psychiatric

social workers conducted on 30-10-14 at GMC Fkt and on 6/7/15 in SIHFW Mohali

Staff of TOLL FREE No.104 will be trained for counselling of tobacco/nicotine addicts

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN

PUNJAB

MPOWER Action Area Present Status

Warn about the

harm of tobacco

(Section 7 -COTPA

2003 )

Section 7 -COTPA 2003 The COTPA,2003 mandates display of Pictorial Health Warnings on all tobacco product packs.

The health warnings occupy presently 40% of principal display area only on front side of the pack. It was to be increased to 85% wef from April 15 (Notification has been kept in abeyance)

Sale of loose tobacco & cigarettes in the State has been banned wef 6/1/15 .Court cases have been launched in Hoshiarpur,Faridkot ,Patiala and Jalandhar Distts against the vendors.

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN

PUNJAB

MPOWER Action

Area

Present Status

Enforce bans on

advertising,

promotions &

sponsorship

(Section 5-

COTPA 2003 )

Section 5- COTPA 2003 : The anti-tobacco legislation, COTPA, prohibits direct/indirect advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products

The amended rules of 2005 provide for: Ban on sale of tobacco products through vending machines Ban on sale of tobacco products by minors Restrictions on the content, size and number of point of sale of advertisements Ban on visible stacking of tobacco products at the point of sale to prevent easy access to minors To prevent brand sharing and surrogate advertising of tobacco products; ‘indirect advertising’ has

been comprehensively defined. Restrictions on display of tobacco products or their use in movies or television. DO No. P-16011/04/09-PH- 1 dated 24-11-11 written to all State Transport Commissioners

/secretaries regarding banning of advertisement of Tobacco products. Recently notices have been issued to Tobacco product vendors to remove advertisement on point

of sale. Section 5 (Tobacco Advertisement Point of Sale) of COTPA is also being implemented

simultaneously. Survey has been done in all the districts to assess the implementation. The implementation has been found to be satisfactory.

Raise taxes on

tobacco products

Taxes on tobacco products in India fall well below the rate recommended by the World Bank from 65% to 80% of retail price. VAT on Cigarettes in Punjab has been increased to 30% plus cess from 20% Bidis need to be included in tax net

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN

PUNJAB

Action taken under Food Safety Standard Act (FSSAI)

Action

Area Present Status

Smokeless Tobacco

products/ chewable

tobacco

Prohibition of Manufacture, sale & Consumption of Smoke Less/chewable products in Punjab has been done w.e.f dated 05/09/12 under section 2.3.4.of FSSA as 90% of the Oral Cancer cases are attributed to consumption of chewable tobacco products.

Flavored Tobacco has been banned wef 28/11/14 two truck loads seized in Patiala and action initiated under FSSAI. Action has been initiated in many other districts also.

* Source: GATS Survey

Action to be taken against Sale of Electronic

Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)/ E-Cigarettes

Action

Area Present Status

Electronic Nicotine

Delivery System

(E-Cigarettes)

A meeting was organised by MoHFW on 10-07-13 to formulate guidelines for regulating manufacture and sale of E-Cigarettes in India under the chairpersonship of JS (SG), MohFW, GoI. State Drug Controller, FDA Punjab & State Nodal Officer, Tobacco control cell, Punjab participated & presented a protocol which can be followed for this purpose. Minutes of Meeting have been circulated to all participants. SDC has issued a letter to all DIs that sale of E-Cigarettes is illegal under Drugs and Cosmetics act. E-Cigarettes seized in three districts and court cases launched under Drugs and Cosmetics Act Click here to view http://pbhealth.gov.in/ban_e-CIgg.pdf

Good Practices adopted by STCC Punjab

Notifications for COTPA

Implementation

Notifications for COTPA Implementation

Notification to authorize the competent persons to Act against any person who commits any offence under Section 4 or Section 6 of the said Act , at any Public Place issued on 24th May 2010.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/Authorized%20officials%20under%20Section%204%20&%206%20Notification%20No.%201022%20Dated%2024-5-2010.pdf

Notifications Contd……

Notification regarding constitution of District and State Level Tobacco Control Committees issued on 20th May 2008.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/State%20level%20and%20District%20Level%20Tobacco%20Control%20Committe

e%20No.%20945%20Dated%2020-5-2008.pdf

Notifications Contd……

Notification regarding constitution of Permanent District Task Force issued on 09-04-2014 to monitor COTPA and abuse of Nicotine in chemical form.

http://pbhealth.gov.in/Notification%209-04-14.pdf

Notification regarding Constitution of State Level & District Level Monitoring Committees issued on 17th January, 2013.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/State%20Level%20&%20District%20Level%20Tobacco%20Monitoring%20Committee%20Notification%20No.%20151%20Dated%2017-1-2013.pdf

Notifications Contd……

Notifications Contd……

Notification to authorize Public Analyst, State Food Lab, Chandigarh as competent authority to test Tobacco and Nicotine in any product.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/tbc_noti.pdf

Notifications Contd……

Notification for prohibition of Manufacture, sale & Consumption of Smoke Less/chewable products including flavoured Tobacco in Punjab has been done under FSSA.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/ban_gutkhka.pdf

Notifications Contd……

Notification for constitution of Permanent State level Task Force issued on 17-07-2015 to monitor COTPA and abuse of Nicotine in chemical form

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/PSLTF.jpg

Notifications Contd……

Notification for constitution of Empowered Committee to implement Article 5.3 of WHO Framework on Tobacco Control dated 13-07-15

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/FCTC.jpg

Inclusion of COTPA violation/Hukkah Bars ban in Monthly Crime Review by Police Deptt

D.O. From PSHFW to Food Supply Department regarding restricting pack of cigarettes to 10

D.O. From PSHFW to Excise & Taxation Department to take action against illicit tobacco

products

WNTD 2015 Award

• Every year, the World Health Organization recognizes individuals or organizations from the six regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control such as research, capacity building, promotion of policy or legislation and advocacy to enhance tobacco control.

• State Tobacco Control Cell, Government of Punjab has been awarded the Regional Director’s Appreciation Award 2015, in recognition of the contributions to tobacco control in Punjab.

WHO WNTD AWARD PLAQUE

Android App

• Android App Launched in Punjab to report any violations of Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act 2003/ Ban on chewable Tobacco/ Ban on E-cigarettes.

Inter state coordination committee

• For coordination between Tobacco control Cells and FDA of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh, a committee has been constituted under Chairmanship of C-FDA Punjab. The committee is holding meetings regularly and sharing information related to violations with each other

Incorporating the condition of COTPA for granting licenses

Punjab Govt. issued a circular regarding incorporating the implementation of COTPA in general conditions for granting License to any commercial establishment.

Notifications regarding ban on Loose Cigarette/Tobacco

Capacity Building

• Various Workshops have been organized by World Health Organization,

International Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Diseases & other NGOs for capacity building.

• These workshops have been attended by State & District level Officers.

• Advocacy workshop for Media and NGOs 27-1-14

• SLCC Meeting 3-2-14 , 27-11-14 and 16/4/15

• Advocacy workshop for Nicotine Abuse 11-3-14

• Workshop of Psychiatrists & Psychiatrist Social workers held on 30-10-14 and 6/7/15 for Tobacco/Nicotine de-addiction

• Capacity building WS for all members of DLTF 16/3/15

• SLWS for stake holders on 6/7/15

• Achievement of Punjab in Tobacco Control

recognised in world forums. Papers regarding

Tobacco Smoke Free Punjab and ENDS accepted in

World Lung Conference( WLC) Barcelona held on

1/11/14, National Conference on Tobacco or Health

held in Mumbai on 15thDecember 2014 and

Abstracts accepted for WLC being held in Cape

town

• An article on E-Cigarettes by SPO was published in

International Journal - Tobacco Control.

Recognition at National/International Levels

Challans Issued to Violators

Year Wise Detail of Challans

S.No.

Year

No. of Challans

1. Oct.2008 to December 2010 1848

2. Year 2011 1831

3.

Year 2012

13090

4.

Jan, 13 to Dec 2013 23968

5

Jan. 2014 to Dec 2014 22834

6

Jan - June 2015 6486

Release of Guidelines for Implementation of Smoke Free Rules & Health workers Guide by Punjab Govt.

• On the occasion of State Level meeting Guidelines for implementation of Smoke Free Rules & Tobacco Free Educational Institutions & Health Workers Guide have been released by, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Punjab on 1oth April 2013 .

• Guidelines will help District & Sub District Level law implementers for effective implementation of COTPA Act, 2003 to make Punjab a Tobacco Smoke Free State.

• Health Workers Guide will help in sensitization of Field level Health Workers about the law & importance of it’s effective implementation. It contains details of health

effects of tobacco on human body.

Click here to view

http://pbhealth.gov.in/Health%20Workers%20Guide.pdf

RAID AT HUKKAH BAR

Surprise Raid at Hookah Bar

• Surprise raids were made at Hookah Bar named “ Nawab Cafe” on 11th April 2013 & “Arabic Infusion” on 31st Dec 2013 in Mohali. Sample suspected of containing Nicotine and Tobacco has been seized by Health Department and sent to Lab for testing.

• Appropriate Action will be taken by the department

after getting the test reports.

Newspaper Cutting

Hookah Bar-District Jalandhar

• A team from the Directorate Health services, members of District level task Force along with the officials of Police Department conducted a surprise raid at Hukkah Bar.

• 12 Hukkahs, 22 Pipes, Flavored tobacco & Tobacco molasses were seized.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (E-Cigarettes) have been seized in Hoshiarpur, Mohali & Ludhiana w.e.f. July 2014 to October 2014 & action initiated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

E-Cigarettes seized in State

Tobacco seized in State

Two trucks loaded

with Tobacco have

been seized by

Health Department in

Patiala.

Letter From Chief Secretary, Punjab

Chief Secretary Punjab has issued instructions to all DCs and Principal Secretaries of all stakeholder deptts to implement Anti-Tobacco law strictly

English Translation of DO issued by CS The Chief Secretary,

Government of Punjab (Branch-……….)

To,

All Deputy Commissioners & Senior Superintendents of Police, State of Punjab No. Dated Chd, 2014

Subject: Strict implementation of all sections of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003/Ban on chewing Tobacco under FSAAI/ Ban on Nicotine in Chemical form e.g. E-Cigarette under Drug & Cosmetic Act

You are quite aware of the fact that Tobacco consumption is very harmful and leads to many life threatening conditions like Cancer and Cardiovascular diseases. Annually it kills more than 12 Lakh People in India. Not only smokers, non-smokers are also its victims. Nearly 15% of young children in the age group of 13-15 yrs use Tobacco in Smoke form or other form (GYTS-2009) while 27.4 % boys and 8.3 % of girls in the age group of 15-24 yrs use tobacco (GATS). 32% of the Non-smokers at workplaces and 75% non-smokers at home are exposed to Second Hand Smoke. In the state of Punjab 12% of people are Tobacco users while 24% are exposed to Second Hand Smoke at work place & home. This is alarming and the Government of India has enacted COTPA-2003. It is the proper implementation of the Act which can safeguard the precious lives of the innocent people.

Punjab Government has initiated various measures to implement COTPA 2003. 18 districts have already been declared Tobacco Smoke Free after Compliance Study by School of Public Health PGI Chandigarh. Efforts are going on to get the remaining districts also declared as Tobacco Smoke Free. Continuous efforts are required to maintain the Tobacco Smoke free status.

Govt. of Punjab has also incorporated the implementation of COTPA in general conditions for granting licence to commercial establishments. If any violation found/noticed, license will be cancelled. Govt. of Punjab has also banned Gutkha and other food products containing Tobacco/Nicotine. Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (E-Cigarettes) has also been declared as illegal in Punjab under Drugs and Cosmetics act.

Sections of COTPA Penalties (Fine or imprisonment or both) Section 4: Prohibition on smoking in a public places

a) To the individual offender: Up to Rs.200/- b) To owner, manager or authorized officer: Fine equivalent to number of offences in public place

Section 5: Prohibition on advertisements of cigarettes and other tobacco products

a) 1st Offence: 2years/ Rs. 1000/- b) 2nd Offence: 5 years/ Rs. 5000/-

Section 6: Prohibition on the sale to minors and around educational institutes

Up to Rs. 200/-

Section 7, 8 & 9: Prohibition on the sale of Cigarettes & Other tobacco products without specific warnings

a) Manufacturer: 1st Offence: 2years/ Rs. 5000/- 2nd Offence: 5 years/ Rs. 10,000/-

b) Selling/Retailing 1st Offence: 1 years/ Rs. 1000/- 2nd Offence: 2 years/ Rs. 3,000/-

Ban on manufacture, sale or distribution of Gutkha, Pan Masala or any other food ingredient containing tobacco or Nicotine as one of the ingredients under Food Safety & Standard Act

Ban on ENDS/E-Cigarette under Drugs & Cosmetics Act

From the monthly reports regarding IEC and Challaning activities under COTPA, it has been

observed that most of these activities are being undertaken by Department of Health and Family Welfare. Participation of all Departments e.g. Police, Education, Local Govt., Transport, Excise and Taxation etc. are required for effective implementation. HODs of all the Departments must monitor the monthly reports at District and State level as per enclosed Format.

Block level Task force should be constituted by Deputy Commissioner on the pattern of Permanent District Level Task Force already in place for monitoring implementation of COTPA/ Gutkha ban/ Hukkah bars/E-Cigarettes etc.

In the next State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) to be held shortly District wise and Department wise reports will be discussed. Encl: 1. Monitoring Formats 2. SLCC Notification 3. Circular regarding cancellation of license Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab

Ends. No. Misl./PB/2014 Dated, Chd, 2014

A copy forwarded to

1. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Deptt. Of Home 2. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Dept. Of Health & Family Welfare 3. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Rural Development 4. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Deptt. Of Finance 5. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Excise & Taxation 6. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, School Education 7. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Higher Education 8. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Transport 9. Secretary Public Relations/Information, Punjab 10. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Local Govt. 11. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Labour 12. Secretary Health cum M.D. , NHM Punjab 13. Legal Remembrance 14. Divisional Manager (Ambala Cantt & Ferozepur) from Department of Railways 15. Director Health & Family Welfare, Punjab for information & necessary action please.

Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab

Letter From DGSE to all Schools

Letter issued from DGSE to all schools for making all schools Tobacco Free Schools.

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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO KEEP A CHECK ON HUKKAH BARS

· STATE LEVEL TASK FORCE TO CHECK CASES OF VIOLATION OF TOBACCO CONTROL ACT/ E-

Cigarettes/Chewable tobacco

Chandigarh March 16: A State Level Sensitisation Workshop for members of district level Task Force

for Tobacco/Nicotine Control was held today in the State Institute of Health & Family Welfare

Mohali under Chairmanship of Mr. Hussan Lal Secretary Health cum Commissioner FDA.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that there are many poisonous chemicals in tobacco due to which

about 2200 people are being killed daily in India. The state health department was taking stringent

steps to curb this menace. He also said that all kinds of chewable tobacco and sale of loose

cigarettes have already been banned in Punjab and licence of a commercial establishment could be

cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act as per latest notification of Punjab Government.

He appealed to common people to help Government in this endeavour.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karanjit Singh Director Health and Family welfare said that COTPA was

being effectively implemented and Monitored regularly at state level by Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal

Secretary Health.Addressing the workshop, he said that the objectives of State Level Sensitisation

Workshop for members of district level Task Force was to sensitise the members of task force

regarding latest notifications for Tobacco/Nicotine Control, prior to a special campaign to act against

abuse of Tobacco and Nicotine in Hotels/Eateries etc and to detect any functional Hukkah Bar and

illegal sale of E-Cigarettes, Loose cigarettes and flavoured/scented chewable tobacco.

Dr. Rakesh Gupta State Programme Officer State Tobacco Control Cell elaborated that compliance

studies have been completed by School of Public Health PGI Chandigarh and compliance to Section 4

of COTPA has been found to be much more than the benchmark of 80% in all the districts. A formal

declaration of Punjab as Tobacco Smoke Free State is, however, awaited, said Dr. Gupta.

Good performing officials of Department of Health,Police,Civil Defence and Food and Drugs

Administration were honored on this occassions.

Special Campaign launched regarding

Tobacco/ Nicotine Control

Following good practices of other states in Tobacco Control can

be adopted :

• Tobacco free educational instts: letters may be written by DGSE/C-

FDA/DHS to all DEOs/heads of educational Instts regarding

implementation of section 4 & 6 of COTPA.They may also be given a

certificate in advance congratulating them for implementation of COTPA.

Signage outside all education instts declaring it as tobacco free.

• VAT has been increased to 65% on all tobacco products including Bidis in

Rajasthan. This is recognised world over as most effective step to

decrease prevalance

• All employees should be administered No tobacco pledge and at the time

of joining service all employees have to declare that they are not addicted

to Tobacco/any other drug

• Sarpanches can be motivated to declare their villages as Tobacco free

and put a Display board at entry point . Corporates can be roped in as

part of CSR

• Toll free helpline no 104 can used for COTPA violation reporting and

counselling of tobacco/nicotine addicts

• Violations of COTPA should be a part of MCR as is being

done by Police in Kerala and many other states and

Constables may be authorised by SSPs to challan COTPA

violators

• DAVP may derecognise advt agencies who get published

Tobacco products advts

• All FM/TV channels may be requested to refuse tobacco

advts

• Letters to all Tobacco Cos to remove advts boards and

tobacco whole sellers /retailors to observe Last day of

month as No Tobacco Day as is being done in

Delhi/Rajasthan

• Posters outside all vendors that: a) no sale of loose

cigarettes is allowed b)No tobacco sale below 18 yrs age c)

Last day of month as No Tobacco Day

• Administrative order to ensure no tobacco shops in 100

yards of their offices/buildings

Good Practices Contd…..

• Constables/STCC-DTCC/RBSK team members may

be notified for challaning

• Challaning i/c of public places for violation in their

jurisdiction

• Publicise provisions in FSSAI/Drugs act etc

• MMUs/Vaccine vans may be used for IEC activities

• Ask all visitors of all govt buildings to through

tobacco in their possession in a speciall box placed

outside

• Write letters to all DCs to grant permission to all

exhibitions/melas after undertaking that it will be

tobacco free

Good Practices Contd…..

Partnering together to fulfill the vision of tobacco free

Punjab