'Skull & bones' demanded on cigarette packs

Indian Asthma Care Society on Monday demanded that every pack of cigarettes or any other tobacco product should contain a pictorial depiction of "skull and cross bones" to make consumers aware of its ill effects on health.

Since the cigarettes and other tobacco products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade, commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003 was in force in Rajasthan, it was mandatory for the makers to print pictorial warning, IACS secretary Dharam Veer Kateva said in a letter to the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Besides picture, every package of cigarettes must also indicate nicotine and tar contents contained in it should be highlighted, Kateva said.

The Act provide for seizure and confiscation of the packages that do not contain such warning, he said.

Requesting the Chief Minister to take up the issue, Kateva said the law should be implemented with spirit and the police be asked to seize such products and take up legal action against the manufacturers.