Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Central Government, through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has notified a significant amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008. Titled the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2024, this revision strengthens the existing health warning requirements on all tobacco product packaging. According to the amendment, the textual health warning “TOBACCO CAUSES PAINFUL DEATH” must now appear in white font colour on a red background. Additionally, the cessation message “QUIT TODAY CALL 1800-11-2356” must be displayed in white font on a black background. These specifications apply to both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco.
The Ministry has made it mandatory that the font type, size, and colour of these warnings be exactly as prescribed in the official templates, which are available for download on the Ministry’s website ([www.mohfw.gov.in](http://www.mohfw.gov.in)) and the National Tobacco Control Programme portal ([https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/](https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/)). The soft and printable versions of the updated warnings are accessible to all manufacturers and stakeholders to ensure compliance.
This move is in line with India’s commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and aims to deter tobacco consumption by making health risks more visible and impactful. Non-compliance with the updated packaging rules may lead to legal consequences under the existing tobacco control legislation. The revised warnings are expected to come into effect starting June 1, 2025.
