Legislations On Tobacco Control > The Tobacco Control Act

THE CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS (PROHIBITION OF ADVERTISEMENT AND REGULATION OF TRADE AND COMMERCE, PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION) ACT, 2003
No. 34 of 2003 [18 th May,2003.]

Restrictions on trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products

(1) No person shall, directly or indirectly, produce, supply or distribute cigarettes or any other tobacco products unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products produced, supplied or distributed by him bears thereon, or on its label, the specified warning including a pictorial depiction of skull and cross bones and such other warning as may be prescribed.

(2) No person shall carry on trade or commerce in cigarettes or any other tobacco products unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products sold, supplied or distributed by him bears thereon, or on its label, the specified warning.

(3) No person shall import cigarettes or any other tobacco product* for distribution or supply for a valuable consideration or for sale in India unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products so imported by him bears thereon, or on its label, the specified warning.

(4) The specified warning shall appear on not less than one of the largest panels of the package in which cigarettes or any other tobacco products have been packed for distribution, sale or supply for a valuable consideration.

(5) No person shall, directly or indirectly, produce, supply or distribute cigarettes or any other tobacco products unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products produced, supplied or distributed by him indicates thereon, or on its label, the nicotine and tar contents on each cigarette or as the case may be on other tobacco products along with the maximum permissible limits thereof:
Provided that the nicotine and tar contents shall not exceed the maximum permissible quantity thereof as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act

Manner in which specified warning shall be made

(1) The specified warning on a package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products shall be
(a) legible and prominent;
(b) conspicuous as to size and colour;
(c) in such style or type of lettering as to be boldly and clearly presented in distinct contrast to any other type, lettering or graphic material used on the package or its label and shall be printed, painted or inscribed on the package in a colour which contrasts conspicuously with the background of the package or its labels.

(2) The manner in which a specified warning shall be printed, painted or inscribed on a package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products shall be such as may be specified in the rules made under this Act.

(3) Every package containing cigarettes or any other tobacco products shall be so packed as to ensure that the specified warning appearing thereon, or on its label, is, before the package is opened, visible to the consumer.