Bill for 80% pictorial warning passed in Parliament

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (Amendment) bill, which includes increased pictorial warnings covering 80 per cent of cigarette packets, has been passed in Parliament. 

On Tuesday (10) a Bill to amend the Act on the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol making it compulsory with regards to 80% pictorial warnings to be displayed on cigarette packs was presented in Parliament as an Urgent Bill.

The Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne presented the Bill to amend the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006.

In the regulation it is mentioned that the pictorial should consist of warning printed on both sides of every cigarette packet, package or carton containing cigarettes, and 80% of the total area of a packet, package or a carton.

The Health warnings will have to indicate the health hazards and the harmful effects caused by the usage of tobacco products, and will also have to include a label or statement specifying the tar and nicotine content in each tobacco product in such packet, package or carton along with such Health warnings prescribed by law.

The new laws will make it mandatory for the Health warnings to be changed once every six months .The pictorials, pictograms and messages that can be used will be made available on a compact disc issued by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol.