Health warnings on tobacco products must from March 31: Ramadoss

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at the 14th World Conference on Tobacco oru00a0Health said health warnings on cigarette and tobacco products are likely to be implemented in full force by March 31.

Stating that the warnings had been immensely delayed due to pressure from Tobacco companies, Ramadoss said he was hopeful that there would be no further delays. He said, "The public needs to pressure the government in order to have such anti-tobacco legislation implemented faster."

He stated examples from Ireland and Manhattan where taxation and anti-smoking laws had helped improve the health of the public at large.

Ramadoss spoke to the media at the launch of the Tobacco Atlas -- a database of smoking trends across the globe --u00a0launched by the World lung Foundation and American Cancer Society.