| A senior information and broadcasting
ministry official confirmed that the health ministry, in this regard,
has initiated a move. "As and when the law is in place, the I&B
ministry, being the nodal ministry for media, would see that it is
implemented and take steps in this regard after consultation with
the media industry," the official added.
The rules and regulations for the ban are "ready" and
these will be notified in eight to 10 days, UNI reports, quoting
health minister Sushma Swaraj, stated today.
The notification comes in the wake of yesterday's Cabinet approval
for ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC), adopted unanimously by the World Health Assembly (WHA) on
24 May, 1999.
When the ban comes through it may not only result in loss of revenue
for TV as well as print medium products, but also has the potential
of starting another controversy as was seen when the I&B ministry
had started cracking down on surrogate liquor ads on the TV channels.
Though even some surrogate tobacco product-related ads (Cavender
and Four Square adventure gears, for instance) have stopped or lessened
exposure on television, it is to be seen whether telecast of events
like Manikchand Filmfare Awards are allowed by the government. Manikchand
is diversified group, but is also manufacturers of chewing tobacco
products.
Similarly, some tobacco companies, also active in the hospitality
and other sectors, heavily sponsor musical performances by renowned
artistes as also sporting events like golf and tennis. Whether telecast
or coverage of these events would also be deemed fit, as per the
new proposal, is yet to be seen.
"We cannot speculate on the future turn of events now and
would tackle the situation as and when they crop up," the I&B
ministry official clarified when asked whether the government is
looking at banning broadcast and coverage of aforementioned events,
for instance.
India will be the seventh country to ratify the FCTC. Among the
nations that have already ratified the Convention are Sri Lanka,
Fiji, Malta, Norway and Seychelles, the agencies reported, adding
at least 40 countries have to ratify the convention to make it globally
applicable, except in countries constrained by constitutional limitations,
the Minister said.
The other provisions of the convention include price and tax measures
to reduce demand for tobacco and non-price measures such as protection
from the exposure to tobacco smoke. The convention also proposes
regulation of contents of tobacco products, prohibiting the sale
of tobacco products to minors and provision for financial resources
in developing countries for the purpose of finding economically
viable alternative in tobacco growing and for implementing tobacco
control programmes.
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