The Punjab Health Department today asked Excise and Taxation department to become active partner in its fight against menace of tobacco in the state and launch a coordinated drive against illegal hookah bars and those establishments flouting anti-tobacco acts.In a communiqué to the Financial Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Principal Secretary Health Ms. Vini Mahajan asked him to issue instructions to field staff of excise and taxation department to ensure that the tobacco products manufactured and packaged must depict the notified pictorial health warning. She said that this way the illicit manufacture and trade of tobacco products could be checked to a large extent.
Ms Mahajan asked Financial Commissioner Excise and Taxation to take immediate action not less than cancelling the permits of all those illicit/contraband tobacco manufacturing companies selling their products without any pictorial health warnings which is mandatory under section 7 of Cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA) 2003. Explaining further she said that being a part of the District Level Coordination Committee under Tobacco Control, officials of Excise and Taxation department above the rank of Inspectors are empowered to act under section 5 ( Prohibition of Tobacco Advt/Promotion/Sponsorship) and 7 of COTPA.
Besides this Ms Mahajan also suggested the Excise and Taxation department to appoint Nodal Officer Tobacco Control state and districts level who can coordinate with state Nodal Officer and District Nodal Officers of the Health department for any technical guidance and training. The necessary guidelines and instructions for punishing the offenders under various sections of Law have been sent to the departments across the state with a directive to check whole-sellers and retailers of tobacco products to rule out sale of illicit tobacco products. Quoting statistics, Ms Mahajan said that one in every 10 cigarettes and many other tobacco products consumed worldwide are illegal which was a major cause of concern.