(a) whether the Government is aware of the rise in the illegal production of cigarettes and other tobacco products that do not adhere to the 85 per cent health warning coverage directive and if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;
(b) whether many of the illegal imports are smuggled where no tax or duty has been paid;
(c) if so, the measures taken by the Government to address the issue of illegal imports and production of tobacco products;
(d) whether the Government would consider the formulation of a safety label that must be pasted on all tobacco products to indicate the product is genuine and locally manufactured; and
(e) if so, the time by which the said measure would be implemented? |
| ANSWER |
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) : As per information provided by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, no such information is received in their Ministry.
(b) & (c) : As per information provided by the Central Board of Excise and Customs, during the past few years, several cases of smuggling of cigarettes have been detected by the Customs Department. As border control agencies, field formations of Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) keep constant vigil to thwart any attempt of smuggling/ illegal imports. On detection of cases, action is taken in accordance with the Custom Act, 1962, as applicable.
(d) & (e) : As per information provided by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, no such proposal is presently under consideration in their Ministry. |
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