The Economic Times today reported that cigarette manufacturers and marketers, Indian Tobacco Company and Godfrey Phillips India, have stopped producing cigarettes at their factories all across India.
The reason cited by ITC in the newspaper for this closure: No clarification from the union health ministry on the pictorial warnings to be carried on cigarette packs.
"We had to stop production of cigarettes because there is no clarity on the pictorial warning which we will have to carry post-December 1," the newspaper quotes an ITC spokesperson.
But the health minsitry, the report adds citing industry sources, wants every tobacco product to carry pictures of cancer-stricken mouth on cigarette packs.
"The law is very clear and it says that every cigarette manufacturer needs to ensure the new pictorial warnings are carried. The group of ministers had earlier suggested something else," industry sources told The Economic Times.
In a related development, the US Food and Drug Administration was reported to have been readying itself to impose carrying disturbing images on cigarette packs to deter potential smokers stay away and those who smoke to quit the addiction for ever.
In response we published a story on November 11, and asked readers if carrying pictorial warnings will deter smokers.
Now that the issue is raised once again we ask you the same question.
Do you think carrying such photos on Indian cigarette packets will discourage desi smokers? Tell us what according to you will reduce smoking amongst young Indians.
Send in your suggestions to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line: 'How to quit smoking' and we will publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.
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