Steps Taken for Effective Implementation of COTPA
The Ministry has written to all the States to mainstream enforcement of the provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) through monthly crime review meetings at the district level. Based upon the request of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs vide letter dated 07.05.2014 sent an advisory to the Director Generals of Police in States /Union Territories to incorporate provisions of COTPA as one of the agenda items in the Monthly Crime Review Meetings at the District Level.
A periodic reporting format has been developed by the National Tobacco Control Cell at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to gather information from the State Tobacco Control Cells and the District Tobacco Control Cells on various tobacco control activities in the States covered under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
The Government has been periodically communicating with the States on the shortfalls noticed in implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme and in enforcement of anti-tobacco laws and regulations. For this purpose, the Ministry, among other steps, has assisted the States in organizing capacity building programmes for Law enforcers from the support available under the National Tobacco Control programme (NTCP), requested the States to implement the Rules related to Regulation of Advertisements at Points of Sale, and to make compliance to COTPA a necessary condition in the licenses being issued to eating house and restaurants.
The Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
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MV/BK/LK