NEW DELHI: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has said that the legislative framework for advancing tobacco control is broadly in place and now it is for the State Governments and other Central agencies to take necessary measures to implement the provisions.

At a workshop on "tobacco control'' here on Tuesday, he said one of the main reasons for non-implementation of the laws was the lack of sensitisation as well as unawareness among the key stakeholders on the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

There was also lack of a regulatory framework for effective monitoring and enforcement.

The rules regarding mandatory depiction of specified health warnings on tobacco packs would come into effect from June 1 this year while the rules regarding nicotine and tar contents would be framed subsequently.

These are the provisions under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.

Pointing out that the growing menace of tobacco could only be effectively curbed through a campaign and concerted effort by all the stakeholders, Dr. Ramadoss said that the Government had decided to launch a new National Programme for Tobacco Control in the XIth Five Year Plan.

The programme broadly envisages setting up of a National Regulatory authority (NRA, in 2007-08) for effective monitoring and enforcement of Anti-Tobacco Laws. The NRA would provide for surveillance and lab testing facilities.

States would be provided help to set up State Tobacco Control Cells and district level monitoring and outreach.

The resource allocation for anti-tobacco initiatives had been increased from a mere Rs. 1 crore (2005-06), to Rs. 5 crore (2006-07) and to Rs. 40 crore in 2007-08.

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