In a major public health measure, the ban on smoking in 'public places', direct and indirect advertising of all tobacco products and their sale to minors came into force on Saturday in the country under the Anti-Smoking Act.
The government is also working on other aspects of the Act like prohibition of sale of tobacco products near educational institutions, mandatory depiction of statutory warning including pictorial warning on tobacco products and mandatory depiction of tar and nicotine content, health ministry officials said.
These rules are likely to be ready in three months, but government would give some time to the industry before they actually come into force, they said.
"State governments have been asked to authorise people to implement the new provisions that came into force," the officials said. There is a provision of Rs 200 fine or punishment for people who violate the rules and smoke in public places, they said.
The order defines public places as enclosed areas like restaurants, offices, railway waiting rooms, buses, airports et cetera.
The ban is being implemented as part of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisements and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003 which was passed by Parliament in April 2003 and notified in May that year.
Since then government was engaged in working out the modalities for its implementation, the officials said adding these rules were notified in February this year.
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