| Summary: | Background and challenges to implementation
The tobacco industry
has historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco
control policy. In Punjab, Officials at various levels
have been approached by representatives of Tobacco Industry for easing
implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 and
withdrawing certain notifications to tackle Tobacco/Nicotine menace. Industry has used its economic power, lobbying and
marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to discredit scientific
research and influence governments in order to propagate the sale and
distribution of its deadly product.It goes to the credit
of political leadership and bureaucracy that most of their attempts have been
foiled. The objective of the study was to assess effective
implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control.
Intervention or response
The present study was conducted in the period of
August 2015 to May 2017 in Punjab. An Empowered Committee was constituted to implement
WHO Article 5.3 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) vides
notification no. 539949/3 dated 17/7/15. A protocol was made that has to be followed while dealing with Tobacco
Industry. Regular Meetings of Empowered Committee
were conducted for effective implementation.
Results and lessons learnt
In Punjab, Officials at various levels have been approached by representatives of
Tobacco Industry. After the formation of the empowered Committee,
no one from the Tobacco industry contacted the department for any kind of
partnerships/ events that are directly or indirectly related to tobacco control.
Conclusions and key recommendations
As the strategies and tactics used by the
tobacco industry evolve constantly these guidelines should be reviewed and
revised periodically to ensure that they continue to provide effective guidance
to the parties on protecting their public health policies on tobacco control
from tobacco industry interference.
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