On Friday, advertisement guru Mr. Prahlad Kakkar stated that the government should repeal the amendment to put anti-tobacco warnings on the content of entertainment apps as it is impractical to implement the rule.

On May 31, the health ministry modified the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Amendment Rules, 2023.

During a panel discussion organized by a think tank, he stated that the new rule mandates the inclusion of anti-tobacco health spots, warnings, and disclaimers by publishers of online curated content or OTT Platforms in audio-visual programs depicting the use of cigarettes and tobacco products.

He stated that the rule had been made to curtail OTT platforms. He alleged the government of adopting double standards and added that the government should ban cigarettes if they want people not to smoke rather than making rules to display warnings.

According to IndusLaw Partner Mrs. Shreya Suri, the Union Health Ministry released a very surprising amendment on World Tobacco Day without consulting anyone in the industry, which essentially regulates and imposes compliance, obligations on OTT platforms for displaying certain health, health sports, and disclaimers regarding the smoking of tobacco being harmful to health.

(Source:https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/govt-should-scrap-anti-tobacco-warning-rules-for-otts-prahlad-kakkar/101056546 )