National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP)

Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08 during the 11th Five-Year-Plan, with the aim to

  • Create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption,
  • Reduce the production and supply of tobacco products,
  • Ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” (COTPA)
  • Help the people quit tobacco use, and
  • Facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.

NTCP in Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu NTCP is implemented by the State Tobacco Control Cell, functioning under the Directorate of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Chennai since 2007.

The District Level activities under NTCP are carried out by the District Health Societies under the supervision of Deputy Director of Health Services. Currently, District Tobacco Control Cells are established in 10 Districts - Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichirapalli, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruppur and Tirunelveli. Funds have been allocated funds under NHM TN in for carrying out the implementation of Tobacco control activities under the NTCP in the above-mentioned districts.

The major components of the Tobacco Control Programme in Tamil Nadu are as follows,

  • Establishment of Tobacco cessation centers.
  • Enforcement of Tobacco Control Law
  • Capacity Building of Various Stakeholders on Tobacco Control
  • Raising Awareness in Schools, Colleges and Other Educational Institutions
  • Declaration of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions
  • Organizing Mass IEC Awareness Campaigns
  • Taking Pledge against Tobacco use

Enforcement of Tobacco Control Law - Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003:

Objective: To discourage the use or consumption of tobacco products by eliminating all forms of direct & indirect advertising, promotion & sponsorship of tobacco products.

SCOPE OF THE ACT: The Act is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form i.e. Cigarettes, Cigars, Cheroots, Bidis, Gutka, Pan Masala (Containing Tobacco) Khaini, Mawa, Mishri, Snuff etc. as detailed in the schedule to the Act. The Act extends to whole of India.

Main Provisions of COTPA, 2003:

COTPA

COTPA Enforcement in Tamil Nadu:

  • In India, Tamil Nadu is the State which collects maximum number of fine amounts from the violators of the “Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003”.
  • Enforcement squad is formed at State and District, Village and Block Level to monitor the violations under the COTPA,2003.

PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATIONS:

SECTION 4: Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places

S4

SECTION 5: Prohibition of Direct & Indirect advertisement of tobacco products

S5

SECTION 6a: Prohibition of sale of cigarette or other tobacco products to any person who is under 18 years of age”.

SECTION 6.b: “Prohibition of sale of cigarette or other tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of anyeducational institutions”

S6b

Section 7: Depiction of Specified Pictorial Health Warning on all Tobacco Products packs

S7

Ban on Hookah Bars:

  • Hookahs/ E- Hookah are Water pipes that are used to smoke.
  • It comes in different flavors such as Apple, cherry, Chocolate, Coconut, Strawberry etc.,
  • It usually works by passing heated charcoal heated air through the Tobacco mixture and water filled chamber.
  • Hookah smoke contains more Nicotine, Carbon monoxide, Tar than cigarette smoke.
  • It promotes nicotine addiction and exposure to second Hand Smoke (SHS) and causes gum disease, Tuberculosis, Chronic Lung Diseases and Cardio vascular diseases.

Objectives to ban Hookah

  • To minimize the potential health risks to Hookah users and protect non users from exposure to their emissions.
  • To prevent the initiation of Hookah by nonsmokers and youth with special attention to vulnerable groups like pregnant women.
  • Protect Tobacco control activities from all commercial and other vested interests related to Hookah including interests of the Tobacco industry

EXISTING REGULATIONS in favor of Banning Hookah

  • Nicotine is a poisonous drug and the sale, Supply, import, Manufacturing and trade of nicotine can be done through a proper license obtain under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  • The Insecticides Act 1968’ Lists “Nicotine” as ‘Nicotine Sulphate’ as an Insecticide in the schedule made under Section 3(e) under the heading ‘List of insecticides’.
  • The Food Safety and Standards Act, at 2006 enacted to ensure availability of safe and whole sum food for human consumption, which inter alia from it using of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food product
  • The manufacture, Storage and import Hazardous chemical rules 1986 made under the ‘Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ‘also lists ‘Nicotine’ under the ‘Lists of Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals ‘in part - II of schedule – I as item no. 421.
  • The Central Government has also enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015, that makes giving or causing to be given to any child any Tobacco products punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years and fine up to Rs.1 lakh.
  • Hence, the Nicotine in the form of Hookah is not allowable and cause extensive health problems not only for the users and also as Second Hand exposure to aerosol from Hookah to the bystanders and Non-Smokers

E- Cigarette Ban

  • Electronic Cigarettes are e-cigarettes include e-pens, e-pipes, e- Hookah & e- cigars which are all collectively known as ENDS Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, are battery operated Nicotine delivery devices that allow users to inhale an aerosol containing Nicotine.
  • The liquid used in ENDS contains Nicotine extracted from Tobacco and mixed with a base usually propylene glycol and may also include flavors, colors and other chemicals.

Harmful Effects of E-cigarettes

  • The E-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale contains harmful and potentially harmful substances including - Nicotine, ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease, volatile organic compounds cancer causing chemicals and heavy metals such as Nickel, Tin and Lead.
  • Nicotine is an addiction producing substance. Nicotine is dangerous to pregnant woman and toxic to the developing fetuses. Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development

Ban on E-cigarettes:

  • The govt. of Tamil Nadu prohibit the manufacture, sale(including online sale), distribution, Trade, display marketing, advertisement, use, import and possession of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Known as E- Cigarettes are any other names or components thereof with immediate effect in state of Tamil Nadu in public interest vide G.O. (Ms) No. 384, H&FW (EAP -II) department dated 14.11.2018.
  • The Govt. of India has prohibited the Electronic Cigarette promulgation of “The prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, manufacture, import, Export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Ordinance 2019.

Penalties / Punishment in force for Manufacturing and Selling E-Cigarettes:

ECig

Capacity Building of Various Stakeholders on Tobacco Control:

  • Training on Tobacco Control is provided to officials from other Government departments such as Police, Education, Railway, Airport, Health, Teachers etc.
  • Non-government organizations such as Civil Societies, Self Help Groups, Youth Club, Police boys club, etc., are trained on Tobacco control.
  • Medical Officers, NCD Staff Nurses, ICTC Counsellors and youth health volunteers have been trained on Tobacco Cessation methodologies for setting up of tobacco cessation clinic/ centers in their Hospitals / Primary Health Centers.

Declaration of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions:

In Tamil Nadu, 13080 schools, and 1344 colleges are declared as ‘Tobacco Free Educational Institutions’ under specified criteria since 2007. In addition to that the following places are declared Tobacco free in Tamil Nadu.

  • Smoke Free Embassies
  • Smoke-Free Police Commissioner’s Office and Police Stations
  • Smoke Free Prisons in Tamil Nadu
  • Smoke Free Transportation
  • Smoke-Free Tamil Nadu Postal Circle
  • Smoke Free Educational Institutions, Medical Colleges/ Dental College/ Government Hospitals/ PHCs
  • Smoke Free Government Buildings
  • Smoke Free Hotels/ Restaurants/ Malls
  • Smoke Free Industries,
  • Smoke Free Slums in Chennai City
  • Tobacco Free Cinema Theatres
  • Smoke Free Villages
  • Smoke Free High Court, Secretariat and so on

Organizing Mass IEC Awareness Campaigns

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated on the 31st of May every year. On this day National Health Mission – Tamil Nadu and Directorate of Public Health & Preventative Medicine, Chennai organizes campaigns to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco, second hand smoking and Tobacco Control laws. The focus of the campaign is to increase awareness on ill effects of tobacco on people’s health causing Non-Communicable Diseases, Cancer and many more. Mass IEC campaigns such as celebration of ‘World No Tobacco Day’, Rallies, IEC on Wheels, Human Chain, Signature campaign, distribution of pamphlets etc. have been held on regular basis to educate Public about ill-effects of tobacco.

For more information or to Report Violations Contact:

State Tobacco Control Cell O/o. DPH & PM
Email: ntcptn@gmail.com
Phone: 044-24335080
Toll Free No.1800110456
Important Links
National Tobacco Control Programme – MoHFW, GOI
Operational Guidelines for National Tobacco Control Programme
COTPA, 2003