MAALAI MALAR NEWS

Health Minister hints at regulation on sale of tobacco

DR VARDHAN ADDRESSING THE WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY COMMEMORATIVE FUNCTION, IN NEW DELHI ON MAY 29, 2014

Describing the growing tobacco consumption in the country as a menace, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan called for regulation on its sale to achieve the goal of controlling non-communicable diseases in India.

"It makes perfect economic sense to regulate the use of tobacco in order to achieve the goal of controlling non-communicable disease in India”, the minister said while addressing the commemorative function on the eve of the ' World No Tobacco Day', here.

"We need to convince tobacco users of the grave ill effects of its consumption," he said, adding children can become the strongest messengers of positive health including giving up tobacco use. It is children, who, he said can convince, motivate and educate the elders to give up the use of tobacco andtobacco products,”

The Health Minister said for him, every day is an anti-tobacco day, where he tries to convince people about the effect its use has on their health.

On the occasion, the Health Minister released highlights of report on “Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India” which estimated direct and indirect costs from all diseases caused due to tobacco use and four specific diseases namely, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

The report highlights that tobacco use and the associated costs are creating an enormous burden for the nation. The total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in the year 2011 amounted to a staggering Rs. 1,04,500 crore. Looking through GDP lens this is 1.16 percent of GDP and 12 percent more than the combined state and central government expenditure on health care in 2011.

He said: "I firmly believe that unless all of us come together and fight back tobacco resolutely, the financial burden of tobacco-attributable diseases will continue to push the families of millions of tobacco users towards poverty and steadily decelerate theeconomic growth of the country. We cannot and must not let that happen."

The report estimates direct and indirect costs from all diseases caused due to tobacco use and four specific diseases namely,respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

The Health Minister also unveiled a print advertisement featuring Mr Rahul Dravid, India’s Brand Ambassador for Tobacco Control.

Govt planning massive campaign to make Delhi tobacco free

New Delhi: On the eve of No Tobacco Day, Delhi Government today issued several instructions to discourage its consumption and said a massive campaign will be launched to make the national capital a tobacco free state. 

Chief Secretary SK Srivastava today convened a meeting of state-level coordination committee for tobacco control at Delhi Secretariat and issued instructions to discourage tobacco consumption. 

In the meeting, Srivastava, who is also the chairman of this committee, stressed upon the need for launching massive campaign for making Delhi a tobacco free state by taking the movement to densely populated areas, various colonies, markets, educational institutions, public places, JJ clusters, slum areas and villages. 

He also directed the officers to take necessary steps for restriction of display of direct/indirect advertisement of tobacco products especially through inter state bus services. 

"It has been decided that commissioner transport (Delhi) will immediately take up this issue with neighbouring states transport departments. "It has also been decided to make all public transport including autos, bus, radio taxi as tobacco free and necessary stickers/signages will be required to be pasted in side the vehicle," said a government official.

The chief secretary also directed the food safety commissioner to take necessary steps to ban all chewable tobacco products in Delhi. In consultation with law department a notification will be issued very soon.

The official also added that in the meeting, a decision was also taken to enhance tobacco taxes and it has been advised that this issue will be taken in front of state empowered committee and accordingly decision will be taken later on.

DFCO inspects Food establishments to check quality

Jammu, May 29: The Drug & Food Control Organization(DFCO) has charged Rs 1650 fine from the violators of Cigarettes & other Tobacco ProductsAct-2003 and lifted 92 food samples for test and analysis during a special drive lunched in Jammu region to enforce compliance to provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act-2006 and regulation of 2011.

As per an official spokesperson, Enforcementteams, during the five day drive, inspected more than 304 food establishments were inspected in region and 92 food sample were lifted for analysis. The teams also educated Food Business Establishments (FBOs) about Food Safety & Standards Act-2006, while 67 FBOs were given instructions to improve sanitary/hygienic conditions. 

The teams also destroyed and disposed off deteriorated, rotten vegetables and sweets.

All the FBOs, especially in the district Kishtwar were directed to keep their establishments neat and clean and attractive particularly during the forth coming Holy Machail Yatra.

Tea traders seek exemption of tea sector from the ambit of Food Safety and Standards Act

GUWAHATI: Appealing to the tea connection of new Prime minister, Narendra Modi, tea traders sought exemption of tea sector from the ambit of Food Safety and Standards Act ( FSSA), 2011 and giving tea the status of national drink.

Vice-chairman of Federation of All India Tea Traders Association (AITTA) Dinesh Bihani told ET, "In last few months Modi's campaign through "Chai Pe Charcha" increased the Tea consumption." 

As Modi rose from a "Chaiwala" to prime minister tea traders seek his attention to some core issues afflicting the sector. 

He said that the government of India introduced FSSAI Act. However, most of the rules of FSSAI are already included in Tea board rules." Therefore we appeal to prime minister to exempt tea from the ambit of FSSAI act. As tea is consumed by ordinary people of India and it is the cheapest beverage so we think that the new government should exempt tea from all taxes similar to other agriculture commodity." 

AITTA added government should give more incentives to exporters, and this will help in brand building of tea outside the country. India exported close to 218.12 million kg (mkgs) of tea as compared to 216.23 million kg in 2012-13. Exports in 2013-14 had fetched Rs 4,391.64 crore as compared to Rs 4,005.93 crore. 

The traders added that tea sell through auction is one of the best platform. "We hope 75 percent of produce of tea should be sold through Tea auctions".

Tobacco products seized

Officials from Food Safety Department seized tobacco products worth Rs. 20,000 from over 25 shops in and around Bargur in Krishnagiri district on Thursday. The products were destroyed by the officials.