Showing posts with label Tobacco. Show all posts

India Ranks No 3 in Pictorial Health Warnings on Tobacco Packages, says International Report

India November 10, 2016: India has moved to 3rd position out of 205 countries that has pictorial health warnings on tobacco packages. India’s earlier ranking was 136 in 2014 and 123 in 2012.
This was revealed by Cigarette Package Health Warnings International Status Report which was released today by Canadian Cancer Society in Delhi, India, at the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), being held from November 7–12 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.

The report ranks 205 countries and territories on the size of their health warnings on cigarette packages and lists countries and territories that require graphic picture warnings. The report shows a significant global momentum toward plain packaging with 4 countries requiring plain packs and 14 working on it. The report also shows that 105 countries and territories have required picture health warnings on cigarette packages. This significant milestone in global public health will reduce smoking and save lives.

This is the 5th Canadian Cancer Society international report on cigarette package health warnings. Previous reports were published in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The top countries ranked by warning size, as an average of the front and back of the package, are:

1. 90% Nepal
1. 90% Vanuatu
3. 85% Thailand
3. 85% India
5. 82.5% Australia (75% front, 90% back)
6. 80% Sri Lanka
6. 80% Uruguay
8. 75% Brunei
8. 75% Canada
8. 75% Laos
8. 75% Myanmar
(In this list, the warning size is the same on the front and back, except in Australia).

According to Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, "India has demonstrated global leadership by implementing 85% pictorial warnings on all tobacco packages. This accomplishment is praiseworthy as it has been achieved despite fierce opposition from the tobacco industry. India will serve as a very positive model for other countries, thus benefitting public health worldwide”

The report highlights include:

105 countries and territories have finalized picture warning requirements, an increase from the 77 that had implemented these requirements by the end of 2014. In 2001, Canada was the first country to require picture warnings and to require a 50% size.

58% of the world’s population is covered by the 105 countries and territories that have finalized picture warning requirements.
Nepal has the largest warnings in the world with picture warnings covering 90% of the package front and back. Vanuatu will also require 90% picture warnings in 2017. India and Thailand have the next largest warnings at 85% of the front and back.
94 countries and territories require warnings to cover at least 50% of the package front and back (on average), up from 60 countries in 2014 and 24 in 2008.
The implementation by most European Union (EU) countries of the new EU requirement for 65% picture warnings was an important development contributing to the increase since 2014 in the number of countries requiring picture warnings.
Cigarette package warnings are a highly cost-effective way to increase awareness of the negative health effects of smoking and to reduce tobacco use. Picture-based warnings convey a more powerful message than a text-only warning, and larger ones increase impact. Picture warnings are especially valuable for low- and middle-income countries where there are higher rates of illiteracy and where governments may have few resources.

Guidelines under the WHO-FCTC treaty also recommend that countries consider implementing plain packaging. Plain packaging includes health warnings on packages, but prohibits Tobacco Company branding, such as colours, logos and design elements, and requires the brand portion of each package to be the same colour, such as an unattractive brown. The brand name would still appear, in a standard font size, style and location. The package format is standardized. Plain packaging puts an end to packaging being used for product promotion, increases the effectiveness of package warnings, curbs package deception and decreases tobacco use.

Plain packaging has been required in Australia (effective in 2012), the United Kingdom and France (effective May 20, 2016, at the manufacturer level) and Hungary (effective in 2018). The 14 countries working on plain packaging are: New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, Canada, Slovenia, Uruguay, Thailand, Singapore, Belgium, Romania, Turkey, Finland, Chile and South Africa.

Tobacco related diseases kills about 2500 Indians daily and over 10 lakh Indians every year. And it is estimated that about 5500 youth and children (as young as 8 years old), initiate tobacco use daily. India has 12 crore tobacco users, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Tobacco-use also imposes enormous health and economic costs on the country. The total direct and indirect cost of diseases attributable to tobacco use was a staggering Rupees 1.04 lakh crore ($17 billion) in 2011 or 1.16% of India’s GDP.

Believe It: Tobacco Kills, says new national campaign on the dangers of smokeless tobacco

Campaign broadcast coincides with global tobacco control meeting, being held in Delhi from November 7th-12th

Bangalore, November 04, 2016 – Global health experts Vital Strategies today congratulated the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on the launch of a powerful national tobacco control mass media campaign. “I Don’t Believe” warns people about the deadly harms of using smokeless tobacco, which is used by tens of millions of Indians every day, and specifically targets people who believe tobacco industry misinformation that says tobacco use isn’t linked to illness and death. The launch of the campaign coincides with Diwali, and the lead up to a major meeting of governmental representatives and tobacco control advocates from around the world – the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) - being held in Delhi from November 7th to 12th

The campaign is based on a Public Service Announcement (PSA) entitled “I Don’t Believe,” that shows a smokeless tobacco user telling friends and family that he does not believe that tobacco causes harm. He keeps on using tobacco, until being diagnosed with oral cancer and, ultimately, dying as a result – leaving his mother, wife and daughter stricken by grief. The PSA ends by drawing people’s attention to the graphic health warnings now on smokeless tobacco packs in India, saying “Tobacco kills. Read It. Believe It.”

The campaign is being broadcast on all major government and private television and radio channels, in 17 regional languages for pan-India impact, from today for a period of four (4) weeks. It will also be featured on billboards across the country, starting November 1st, 2016.

According to Mr C K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, “Our Government is committed to ensuring healthcare and social safety for all Indians. Tobacco is a menace which only leads to preventable disease and premature death, but we can save lives by persuading current tobacco users to quit and by deterring potential users from starting to use tobacco. Warning people about the dangers of tobacco through campaigns like I Don’t Believe is a key part of our strategy. It is designed to encourage people to pay attention to the graphic health warnings on smokeless tobacco packs and heed the overwhelming body of scientific evidence on tobacco’s harms, so we can reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco use in India. We urge smokeless tobacco users to heed the message of this powerful campaign.”

José Luis Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vital Strategies, commented, “We are delighted to have supported the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in launching this campaign to show the harm smokeless tobacco causes to users and their loved ones. We encourage finance ministers debating the Goods and Services Tax bill to recognize they have a role to play, too. India is facing an increasing burden of non-communicable disease for which tobacco use is a leading risk factor, and an economic burden from tobacco-related disease of more than 1.4 trillion rupees every year. All tobacco products cause preventable disease and premature death. By increasing the price of all tobacco products through higher taxes, India can reduce tobacco use, especially among vulnerable populations, such as youth, pregnant women, and low-income smokers. This would help to save lives, reduce the unsustainable economic burden of tobacco related disease, and accelerate India’s progress towards its commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Tobacco use in India – a growing health and economic problem

India has the second largest number of tobacco users in the world, with 275 million people or 35 percent of all adults using tobacco in any form. According to The Tobacco Atlas, nearly a quarter (23.2 percent) of adult males, 3.2 percent of adult females, 5.8 percent of boys and 2.4 percent of girls smoke tobacco in India. Smokeless tobacco use is even more popular, especially among lower socio-economic groups and women. More than a quarter (26 percent) of adults use smokeless tobacco - one of the highest levels of prevalence in the world. In total, more than 2,542,000 children and more than 120,000,000 adults in India use tobacco each day. As the use of all forms of tobacco has increased, so has tobacco-related disease and premature death. Tobacco is the cause of 14.3 percent of male deaths and 4.7 percent of female deaths in India, killing over 981,100 Indian citizens every year. A study led by The University of York found that 74 percent of global deaths related to smokeless tobacco occur in India. According to The Tobacco Atlas, the regulation of smokeless tobacco products should be tightly integrated into tobacco control policies. In addition, specific communication strategies must be effected to change cultural beliefs and historic perceptions around smokeless tobacco. High tobacco prices and taxes are the single most effective means of reducing tobacco use, so a uniformly high GST regime for all tobacco products would act as an effective deterrent to tobacco consumption.

Research has shown that mass media campaigns and graphic health warnings on tobacco packs are one of the most effective means to prompt people to stop smoking. They are one of the World Health Organization’s M-P-O-W-E-R (W=Warn) strategies to reduce tobacco consumption. M-P-O-W-E-R strategies are endorsed and promoted by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, of which Vital Strategies is a principal partner.

About Vital Strategies

Vital Strategies envisions a world where every person is protected by a strong public health system. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. Vital Strategies is an affiliate of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). To find out more, please visit vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat

For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and tobacco control expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org

PROPOSED 26% SIN RATE ON TOBACCO TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT REVENUE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

A Sin tax rate below 40% would certainly make all tobacco products even more affordable to youth and other vulnerable populations.

BENGALURU, November 1st, 2016: India has the second largest number of tobacco users (275 million or 35% of all adults in India) in the world – of these at least 10 lakh die every year from tobacco related diseases. Tobacco-use imposes enormous health and economic costs on the country.

There is certainly an overarching consensus that goods that are harmful to society categorized as “sin” such as tobacco be taxed at the highest rate under GST as recommended in the Chief Economic Advisor report which seeks a 40% GST sin rate on all tobacco products including cigarettes, bidis and chewing tobacco. The GST council meeting that concluded on October 20th proposed a much lower 26% GST sin rate which would have significant impact on the revenue as well as the health of our nation, both of which require serious consideration. The rationale for a sin tax is twofold, to pay for the damage caused to society by products like tobacco, and secondly, to increase the price and reduce their usage. A 26% rate would defeat both purposes – it would significantly reduce current revenues from tobacco and would actually make tobacco products more affordable and encourage consumption, especially among vulnerable population including children and youth.

Tobacco-use imposes enormous health and economic costs on the country. The total direct and indirect cost of diseases attributable to tobacco use was a staggering Rupees 1.04 lakh crore ($17 billion) in 2011 or 1.16% of India’s GDP.

“A much lower GST rate would make all tobacco products even more affordable to youth and other vulnerable populations, leading to the impact of the tobacco epidemic becoming more severe driving up health care costs and resulting in productivity losses. This will certainly lead to an increased number of fatalities per year, which is not a good news for any country. I firmly believe & urge that the government should tax the tobacco products at very high rate to ensure it discourages mass consumption” Dr. U. S. Vishal Rao, Oncologist and Member of High Power committee for tobacco control, Government of Karnataka.

Approximately 48 percent of men and 20 percent of women consume tobacco (35 percent of the adult population overall) - of these at least 10 lakh are dying each year from tobacco related diseases. Bidis comprise 48 percent of the tobacco market, chewing tobacco 38 percent and cigarettes 14 percent so it is evident that bidis account for a significant portion of those deaths.

According to, Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Assistant Director, Institute of Public Health(IPH) “The current tobacco tax differentiates significantly between various forms of tobacco products (such as bidis, smokeless tobacco and cigarettes). Continuing to sell cheap, virtually tax-exempt bidis to the underprivileged, even in the new GST system, will ensure that the poor continue to be trapped in vicious cycle of poverty and ill health, exacerbated by affordability and addiction which causes them to spend more on tobacco and less on food, healthcare and education. We would urge the central and state governments to tax all forms of tobacco including bidis at 40 percent under GST regime, to insulate the population from its ill effects.”

Durgaiah, a farmer from kanakapura taluk of Ramanagar district said that he smoked beedis for 30 years and eventually was admitted to hospital for breathlessness due to throat cancer and later on lost his voice box which was surgically removed. He wondered why was the Government making beedis so affordable and cheap if they had bad consequences, especially if the government was so concerned about the poor. He emphasized that government should make beedies costlier than cigarettes and should be beyond the reach of a poor man in a village.

Based on current scenarios under consideration, a 40% Sin rate combined with the existing excise tax and top-up state rights to tax tobacco appears to be the best scenario for public health and revenue. This will not only help us maintain the current tax burden on tobacco, and will prevent more Indians from falling prey to life-threatening diseases and caught in a cycle of perpetual poverty!

Institute of Public Health appeals to the GST council for HIGHEST tax on tobacco

Bengaluru CITY, October 17th 2016: The Institute of Public Health (IPH) is an institutional response to the gaps in the public health systems. It is a not- for-profit organization registered in 2005 as a charitable society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act. IPH has been working on the issue of tobacco control for more than eight years. IPH has appealed to the GST council to recommend and accept a highest possible tax rate under GST on all types of tobacco including cigarettes, bidis, smokeless tobacco and pan masala to discourage their consumption and addiction amongst Indians and safeguard public health.

It has been proven globally that the most direct and effective method for reducing tobacco consumption is to increase their price through tax increases. Higher taxes are particularly effective in reducing tobacco use among vulnerable populations, such as youth, pregnant women, and low-income smokers. An increase in tobacco prices by 10 percent decreases tobacco consumption by 4 percent in high-income countries and by about 6 percent in low- and middle-income countries. India has the second largest number of tobacco users (275 million or 35% of all adults in India) in the world. Each year, about 1 million Indians die from tobacco-related diseases and if current trends continue, tobacco will account for 13% of all deaths in India by 2020. Tobacco-use imposes enormous health and economic burden on the country as tobacco-attributable direct medical costs alone are around 21% of national health expenditure.

The current taxation system differentiates between various forms of tobacco products (such as bidis, smokeless tobacco and cigarettes) while imposing taxes. Considering that bidi smoking is considered to cause about 2 - 3 times greater nicotine and tar inhalation than cigarettes, due to the poor combustibility of the bidi wrapper and greater puff frequency needed to keep the bidi alight.[i] it is most critical that ALL tobacco products are included within GST and under the highest category for demerit or sin products to attract maximum tax.

According to the 2015 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, India is one among the very few countries where cigarettes have become more affordable over the past few years – not getting the treatment of tobacco products right under the new GST system will only make matters worse and cause many more premature deaths.

Even as the industry is opposing the recommendations to impose the ‘sin tax’ rate of 40 percent on tobacco, it is important to note that tobacco taxation in India is way below global standards. The current rates for even cigarettes and smokeless is significantly less than that recommended by the World Bank’s 2/3rd (tax should be 67% of retail product price) and the WHO (tobacco excise taxes should account for at least 70% of the retail price).[ii] According to Dr. Rijo John of IIT Jodhpur, “A recent report from WHO shows that current cigarette taxes as a percentage of retail prices in India are lower than even neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and rank 80th in the world. A 40% GST rates + central excise duty at the current levels would just about maintain the current tax burden on tobacco products. It is also important to allow states to maintain their right to impose top-up taxes on tobacco products, in order to actually make tobacco and tobacco products less affordable over time.”

According to, Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Assistant Director at the Institute of Public Health “The GST regime should ideally act as a deterrent to the consumption of health hazard causing substances such as Cigarettes, Bidis etc. through higher taxes. All differentiations should be done away with regards to tobacco and tobacco products and taxed at the highest slab under GST, since lower GST rates would contribute to their affordability and end up promoting their increased consumption amongst most vulnerable sections of population pushing them below the poverty line.”

Bidis which comprise 48 percent of the tobacco market, (as compared to chewing tobacco which is 38 percent and cigarettes 14 percent) have been subjected to very low central and state taxes under the false pretext of protecting bidi rollers’ livelihood. However, the reality is that low taxes and exemptions only benefit the bidi industry owners. “We strongly support the highest level of tax for bidis under GST and petition that some of these bids taxes are used to improve our wages/living conditions as well as provide alternative livelihoods”, says, Nazim Ansari, Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Jan Sewa Sansthan (representing around 6000 bidi workers in Uttar Pradesh). He emphasized how critical it is to effectively regulate and tax all forms of tobacco uniformly under GST regime to protect India’s most vulnerable populations – the time has come for the government to step up to protect India’s 67.5 million bidi smokers from an untimely and painful death.

Therefore, IPH appeals to the GST Council that Tobacco and tobacco products including bidis be taxed at the highest rate under GST with imposition of an additional central excise duty and a provision for states’ right to impose top-up taxes be retained. A healthy and productive citizen will contribute more to nation building and help in realizing India’s dream of becoming a world economic power.

[1] M Rahman* and T Fukui. Bidi smoking and health. Public Health (2000) 114, 123-127.

[1] In 1999, the World Bank announced a yardstick after observing that the tax accounts for two-thirds to four-fifths of the retail price of cigarettes in countries with comprehensive tobacco control policies. See also WHO’s Technical Manual on Tobacco Tax Administration. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010.

SEMINAR ON BORDER MANAGEMENT AND ILLICIT TRADE

Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Honorable Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India released FICCI CASCADE Report – “Need For Policy Reforms to Combat Illicit Markers”

13 October, 2016- FICCI, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi

“Safe borders are critical to nation; hence collaborative and cooperative measures are required as an anti-smuggling initiative in the country” stated Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Honorable Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, during the Seminar on Border Management and Illicit Trade organized by FICCI CASCADE in collaboration with the Faculty of Studies, Border Security Force. Hon’ble Minister congratulated FICCI for this initiative and urged for suggestions from FICCI to address the issue of illicit trade and smart border management.

The existence and operation of illicit markets such as smuggling has been an enduring problem that has escalated in scope and magnitude, impacting industries, government, economies and, the health and safety of the consumers. Moreover, smuggling operations have close links to terror organizations and criminal networks. In fact, it is today one of the biggest challenges faced by India and its industry, tarnishing the country’s image in the global arena. It is time that we, as a national and as a part of the global economy, call for stern and resolute counterstrike force against such ill-intentioned activities. This has several elements, starting with greater vigil at the borders.

This seminar, attended by over 150 BSF officers from across the country, addressed ways and means to combat illegal cross-border flows, facilitate cooperation and coordination among stakeholders and aimed at sensitizing the officers on the magnitude of the menace.

Dr. Didar Singh, Secretary General FICCI in his welcome address stated that border guards were critical stakeholders in combating cross border illegal trading activities. On one hand, while open borders facilitate travel and trade, they also make border control more challenging due to the emerging new forms of cross border crimes. Hence, it becomes vital that officers at the borders are prepared to identify possible suspects and their victims in such ill-intentioned crimes.

Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor FICCI CASCADE and former special commissioner of Police, New Delhi said “Illicit trade across the borders is impacting the social fabric of nations; India in particular is a victim of large scale smuggling. This web of illicit trade has entangled not only the legal industry and governments, but also the consumers who are exposed to grave risks to life and security”.

Mr. K K Sharma, IPS, Director General, Border Security Force said “the initiative taken by FICCI CASCADE is a most welcome step. BSF looks forward to many more instances of such collaborations in future as these activities will surely help the organizations and industries contribute to nation building”

Senior officials and eminent speakers from Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Police Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, US Embassy etc were present to discuss and deliberate on issues such as Role of Enforcement Agencies and Challenges Encountered in Illegal Cross Border Trade; International Perspective on Illegal Cross Border Trade and Market and Technologies.

On this occasion, a report on Need for Policy Reforms to Combat Illicit Markets – Case Study on Tobacco industry was also released. The report talks about trade of illicit cigarettes, which constitute a significant component of the tobacco industry and is leading to the loss of revenue to government, loss of business to the legitimate industry, livelihood opportunities, adversely impacting farmers, besides being a threat to national security.

Key findings of FICCI CASCADE Report – Need For Policy Reforms to Combat Illicit Markers (Case Study on Tobacco Industry) are as follows:

· Smuggled cigarettes consumption has increased by over 90% (12.5 to 23.9 billion sticks) in the last 10 years

· 74% smokers willing to switch to cheaply-priced smuggled or illegal cigarettes because of higher taxation on legal cigarettes

· Over 56% smokers prefer attractive packaging of foreign smuggled brands which doesn’t adhere to Indian regulations like 85% health warning

The report highlights that high and discriminatory taxes on legal cigarette industry in India are the primary drivers of illicit trade. Today, Indian smokers find the cheaper alternatives – smuggled cigarettes – more attractive and as per the report there has been over 90% increase in consumption of smuggled cigarettes in the past 10 years. The illicit cigarette market in India is growing steadily and has increased from 11.1 billion sticks in 2004 to 23.9 billion sticks in 2015. Due to the rising prices of cigarettes, 74% smokers are willing to switch to cheaply-priced smuggled or illegal cigarettes. The report also found that over 56% smokers prefer the attractive packaging of smuggled foreign brands that do not carry health warning as mandated by Indian regulatory environment.

Rising consumption of illicit cigarettes in India

SEMINAR ON BORDER MANAGEMENT AND ILLICIT TRADE

Source: Tobacco Board (GOI), USDA and Industry estimates

As per FICCI CASCADE, the total loss to the government estimated for 2014, on account of the illicit markets in respect of the seven sectors manufacturing industry is Rs 39,239 crores. Amongst the various sectors, the maximum revenue loss to the exchequer on account of counterfeiting and illicit trade is attributed to tobacco products at 23%, estimating a revenue loss of Rs. 9139 crores.

According to studies quoted in the report, in Canada, taxes have been shown to increase the size of black markets and to cause economic activity to move underground as price-sensitive individuals look for creative ways to evade taxation. Studies have shown that in the tobacco industry, consumers’ willingness to switch from smoking legally purchased cigarettes and tobacco to contraband products increases with tax hikes.

An econometric analysis by Jean-Francois Ouellet, Associate Professor of Marketing at HEC Montreal, and his co-authors Mariachiara Restuccia, Alexandre Tellier and Caroline Lacroix, on the consumer behaviour in Canada found that each additional dollar in taxes raises the propensity to resort to consuming contraband cigarettes by 5.1%.

A Taiwan study says for an increase of each Taiwanese dollar (TN$) in the price of legal cigarettes, the probability of a consumer (who previously did not smoke smuggled cigarettes) to shift to smoking smuggled cigarette increases by 26.1%.

While the consumption of illicit cigarettes is going up, use of tobacco in legal cigarettes is steadily going down. From 86 million kg in 1981-82, use of tobacco for legal cigarettes has gone down to 62 million kg in 2014-15.

The growth in consumption of illicit cigarettes is accompanied by a decline in the use of tobacco in legal cigarettes. In India, legal cigarette constitutes 11% of the total tobacco consumption in volume. Illicit cigarettes constitute 4% and the rest 85% come from chewing tobaccos, bidis, khaini, cheroot, hookah tobacco, leaf tobacco, zarda, kimam, surti and snuff etc. This is in sharp contrast with the trend in Western countries where smoking of cigarettes constitutes 90% of the total tobacco consumption. In terms of tax revenue, legal cigarettes contribute the bulk, 87% of the total excise revenue, while the non-cigarettes products contribute only 13% to revenue.

Include Bidi Manufacturers, Bidi Workers, Bidi Tobacco Farmers, Tendu Leaves Pluckers and other Industry Stakeholders in the Indian Delegation at the WHO FCTC COP7 –

All India Bidi Industry Federation (AIBIF) Appeals to the Government

New Delhi, October 6, 2016: The Government of India is hosting the WHO FCTC Conference of Parties (COP 7) at Noida during the 7th to 12th of November 2016. As a representative body of Bidi Manufacturers, the All India Bidi Industry Federation (AIBIF) has requested the Government of India to include bidi manufacturers and other stakeholders in the Indian delegation to the COP7. Incidentally, the AIBIF also tries to protect interests of millions of bidi workers dependent on the bidi industry. Accordingly, the AIBIF has also requested the Government to include representatives of bidi workers unions in the said delegation.

It is needless to mention that democratic process is fundamental to all policy making both at an international and at the national level. In fact, the Guidance Note of the UN Secretary General on Democracy emphasizes the central role of democratic processes in the fulfillment of the goals of the UN.

Even FCTC upholds and promotes transparency, and participation of all constituents and stakeholders in its procedures. Further, the FCTC recognizes the need to consider the livelihood and economic interests of tobacco growers and tobacco workers while implementing its provisions and calls to be mindful of the social and economic consequences that tobacco control programmes may engender in developing countries especially in counties which are predominately tobacco growing and/or tobacco products manufacturing counties.

The COP7 should therefore, be carried out in participative and democratic manner.

Mr. Rajnikant Patel, President, All India Bidi Industry Federation, said, “We are deeply concerned about the vested interests of NGOs and anti-tobacco activists in India, who through their relentless and biased campaign are influencing the Government’s tobacco control policy and promoting extreme regulations that are already hurting bidi industry and consequently employment of bidi workers and causing widespread growth of counterfeit trade in bidis. The growth of counterfeit trade in bidis has led to sharp drop in sales of bidis of leading bidi manufacturers and has severely impacted livelihood of millions of bidi workers.

“We are apprehensive that NGOs, who are allowed access to the FCTC COP7, will carry a strong voice during the Conference and will attempt to enforce their ulterior agenda at the meeting and try to bring undesirable anti-bidi workers proposals by the Parties to the Conference causing further distress to millions of bidi workers in the country.” added, Mr. Patel.

The Federation therefore submits that policy developments in this area are not left to anti tobacco activists or NGOs. In order to protect the interests of millions of bidi workers, law abiding bidi manufacturers, and rights of other constituents of the tobacco industry, we appeal to the Government of India to include Bidi Industry Stakeholders and representatives of the Bidi Workers Unions in the official Indian delegation to the Conference.

The Indian delegation comprising all bidi industry stakeholders to COP7 will ensure that all stakeholders view point on various issues is considered while recommending new tobacco control measures without harming the interests of millions of bidi workers dependent on bidi industry.

The Federation appeals to the Government of India to uphold the high democratic principles of the Indian Constitution and facilitate the participation of bidi workers and other industry stakeholders in the proceedings of the FCTC COP7.

Over 1 Lakh Tobacco Farmers Sign Appeal to Prime Minister

Urging Inclusion in WHO – FCTC COP7

· Demand policy makers to promote balanced regulations to safeguard the interests and livelihood of millions of small farmers and rural workers

New Delhi, September 29, 2016: Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), a non-profit organization representing the cause of millions of farmers of commercial crops across the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat etc. submitted an appeal signed by over 1,00,000 (1 Lakh) tobacco farmers to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The appeal urges the Prime Minister and the Government of India to include the tobacco farmers in the official Indian delegation to the upcoming WHO FCTC COP7.

The appeal is a demonstration of disappointment and resentment towards WHO–FCTC regulations. It requests the Government to reject the extreme FCTC proposals, which are not evidence-based. The farmers plead with the policy makers to promote balanced regulations to safeguard the interests and livelihood of millions of small farmers and rural workers and their families.

The WHO is holding the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of Parties (COP7) Meeting in India from 7-12 November, 2016. Adhoc decisions on tobacco control at this Conference, as in previous such Meetings, will affect the livelihood of millions of tobacco farmers and farm labourers involved in tobacco cultivation in the country.

The appeal has also been submitted to various concerned Ministries such as the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Finance etc.

As a representative of the tobacco farmers in India, FAIFA has also applied to the WHO FCTC Secretariat to give observer status to tobacco farmers in the FCTC COP7. This will allow farmers’, one of the key stakeholders of the tobacco community, to understand the future course of actions being proposed by the WHO on tobacco control and the impact of these measures on their tobacco crops. The applications and requests of the farmers have not been acknowledged by the W.H.O and it seems that the UN agency wants to pursue the conference in a non-inclusive manner.

Shri B.V. Javare Gowda, President, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said, “A democratic and participative approach in the formation of the Indian delegation to COP7 will ensure that the farmers and the Industry view point on various proposals arising out of the COP7 Agenda is taken cognizance of and no unilateral and discriminatory one-sided decision is taken by the Parties to the Conference that is hostile to the livelihood of millions dependent on tobacco in India.”

FCTC itself, through its Guiding Principles, propagates and promotes transparency, and participation of all constituents and stakeholders in its procedures. The Guideline Principle states, “the importance of technical and financial assistance to aid the economic transition of tobacco growers and workers whose livelihoods are seriously affected as a consequence of tobacco control programmes in developing country Parties, as well as Parties with economies in transition, should be recognized and addressed in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development”.

In fact, the Preamble to the FCTC recognizes the need to consider the livelihood and economic interests of tobacco growers and workers in implementing its provisions: “Mindful of the social and economic difficulties that tobacco control programmes may engender in the medium and long term in some developing countries and countries with economies in transition...”

Mr. Murali Babu, General Secretary, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), added, “The participation of farmers in the FCTC COP7 deliberations will be in line with the principles of transparency and equity as propagated by the United Nations itself. However, these principles have been completely disregarded by W.H.O in its past conferences and it is unfortunate that they want to keep the upcoming conference closed door as well. The undemocratic posturing of WHO has gone to such an extent that the media is also not being allowed to cover the proceedings.”

Such undemocratic FCTC–COP7 meetings is not good for India’s reputation which values transparency and democracy. It will certainly be a black mark on the Government and our Country.

Through this Media conference the farming community, with folded hands, requests the Prime Minister of India to direct the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to include tobacco farmers in the Indian official delegation and facilitate their participation in the WHO – FCTC COP7 meeting.

‘Western organizations are threatening our livelihoods’: Millions of Tobacco Retailers’ Appeal to the Prime Minister

· WHO FCTC Convention on Tobacco Control might influence the Government to take arbitrary decisions

· Also appeals to Health Ministry to include retailers in the Indian delegation at FCTC COP7

‘Western organizations are threatening our livelihoods’: Millions of Tobacco Retailers’ Appeal to the Prime Minister

New Delhi, 26 September, 2016: The Akhil Bharatiya Paan Vikreta Sangathan (ABPVS), a body of small tobacco retailers across India, has appealed to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to protect the millions of retailers whose livelihood is directly dependent on tobacco retail. According to ABPVS the Government might be forced to consider and adopt harsh policies against tobacco retailers at the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), scheduled to be held in India in 2016. To counter this and to ensure that the small retailers are also allowed to present their point of view and their valid concerns, the association has also appealed to the Health Ministry to include tobacco retailers in the team representing India at WHO FCTC.

ABPVS has asserted that NGOs, under the influence of multinational companies from Western countries and promoting the interests of supermarkets and mega markets, have been influencing the WHO to adopt resolutions at the conferences, which will affect the livelihood of millions of small tobacco retailers across India. The appeal has also been made out to the Union Health Minister, Union Commerce Minister, Union Labour Minister and Union Finance Minister.

ABPVS is pained to see that lobbying by various Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in India on tobacco regulation has resulted in excessive tobacco control policies which have caused immense hardships to lakhs of tobacco retailers in the country and also put their livelihood and existence in danger. the Government might be forced to consider and adopt harsh policies against tobacco retailers at the World Health Organization. Most of these retailers are small entrepreneurs, who support themselves and their families through tobacco retail.

“In the WHO FCTC conference, the discussions will be held behind closed doors, and conclusions would be decided by just a few participants. Is it the best way to decide the future of the millions dependent on the industry? We expect impractical and unreasonable tobacco control measures to be adopted without any discussion or representation from stakeholders like us. Since the conference is being held India – a proud democracy – it should follow the

democratic traditions of the country and allow participation by those whose future would be affected,” says Ram Ashrey Mishra, President, Akhil Bharatiya Pan Vikreta Sangathan.

The NGOs have so far been extremely successful in lobbying with the Union Health Ministry as a result of which unreasonable and impractical tobacco laws have been framed in the country causing harassment of poor retailers in the country and in the process affecting their livelihood. Because of the regulations, which are the harshest in the world, and excessive taxation on tobacco products in India, there has been a significant increase in the availability of smuggled tobacco products in the country as is evident by the large number of seizures made by the enforcement agencies.

Real fears of millions of small tobacco retailers across India about WHO FCTC conference

· The WHO FCTC Conference, under the influence of NGOs and other vested interests, would force the Indian Government into adopting new and extreme tobacco control regulations. These new policies and regulations would serve the objective of large format retail outlets and will affect livelihood of people running small outlets across India

· In the WHO FCTC conference all discussion will be held behind closed doors and some arbitrary, impractical and unreasonable tobacco control measures are likely to be adopted without discussion with the tobacco industry/ stakeholder like the poor retailers whose future would be impacted by such illogical decisions

· WHO FCTC has been used as a platform by NGOs with their selfish interest to push the agenda of the developed countries of the West and who have no knowledge of the hardships faced by tobacco retailers in developing countries like India to make a living

· Most of the NGOs working against the tobacco industry in India are funded by Western ‘donors,’ who have major interest in promoting supermarket format for retailing in India and also have direct links with the multinationals based in USA and Europe. By killing the traditional retail format in India these NGOs will help multinationals to extensively establish their supermarkets in the country

· Resolution at the conference will encourage the US/European multinational companies to promote smuggling of tobacco products in India, available at half the price of legal Indian cigarettes due to tax evasion and without any large warnings, as displayed by Indian cigarettes

· WHO FCTC normally cities Article 5.3 to block participation of tobacco retailers in their conferences. The Association is shocked that this trick is being used by FCTC even in a democratic country like India, which is hosting the next conference in November 2016. As citizens of this country the Association has all the rights to be involved in discussion by FCTC on matters relating to tobacco control which would impact the livelihood of millions of poor and marginal tobacco retailers

Appeal to the Government of India

· Protect the interests of millions of small retailers during WHO FCTC conference

· Tobacco retailer associations should be consulted by the Government of India

· Since WHO FCTC conference is being held in a democratic country like India, the Conference should follow democratic traditions and allow participation by those whose future would be affected by any decision.

· The Association sincerely appeals to the Health Ministry to include Tobacco Retailers in the team representing India at the WHO FCTC conference

· Union Health Ministry must resist any move by WHO FCTC towards any further restriction on tobacco retailing as such a measure would have a disastrous effect on the millions of poor retailers

· The Government of India should investigate the funding and working of NGOs in the field of tobacco-control and be aware of NGOs spreading lies to push excessive regulations to serve the interests of Western Organizations at the WHO FCTC conference

· Sincere appeal to the Government of India that no impractical resolutions be adopted at the WHO FCTC conference which could lead to loss of livelihood of tobacco retailers in the country

· ABPVS humbly requests the Hon’ble Prime Minister and other Union Ministers not to participate in the WHO FCTC in November 2016 conference as it is working against the millions of small and poor tobacco retailers of the country, who are already under tremendous pressure to make a living and ensure their family’s survival