Pictorial warnings: GoM to meet today

A group of Ministers is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss the Union Health Ministry’s plan to introduce pictorial warnings on tobacco products.

However,with the Dr Anbumani Ramadoss,who as Union Health Minister initiated the plan,no longer in the Cabinet or GoM,NGOs feel the matter is likely to be delayed further. The deadline for manufacturers to incorporate the warning on packages is May 31. “It is election time and the ruling party will not take any chances. In all likelihood it is going to be further delayed or diluted,” said the representative of an NGO which has been pushing for pictorial warnings.

Earlier,the Government had put off the order mandating pictorial warnings less than a week before it was to come into effect from December 1.