Centre proposes new and stricter anti-tobacco regulations for online content platforms

The anti-tobacco regulations will also include video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Centre has opened a 30-day public consultation period for individuals and organisations to submit feedback.

By  Storyboard18| Sep 20, 2024 9:36 AM
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare made the draft announcement on September 13, 2024, seeking to amend the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules, 2024. (Representative Image: Mathew MacQuarrie via Unsplash)

Centre has introduced new draft regulations to enforce stricter anti-tobacco messaging on online curated content (OCC) platforms. This includes video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare made the draft announcement on September 13, 2024, seeking to amend the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules, 2024.

It has opened a 30-day public consultation period for individuals and organisations to submit feedback.

In a move to intensify its anti-tobacco campaign, the government has said that the proposed rules will require OCC platforms to include non-skippable anti-tobacco health spots, lasting a minimum of 30 seconds, at the beginning and midway through any content that features tobacco use.

It also mandated that a 20-second audio-visual disclaimer warning about the dangers of tobacco use, be shown at the start of the content. For scenes that specifically feature smoking or tobacco consumption, static anti-tobacco warnings will need to be displayed throughout.

The said rules will apply to all released from September 1, 2023.

Tags
First Published onSep 20, 2024 9:36 AM

SPOTLIGHT

How it WorksMIB’s Ashwini Vaishnaw at Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave: Govt working for fair compensation for media houses

At the Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spotlighted the critical role of traditional media in an evolving digital landscape. He emphasized that such gatherings can aid the govt in formulating more effective policies for a balanced and sustainable media ecosystem.

Read More

IN PHOTOS: At Global Pioneers Summit, visionaries chart the future of business and creativity

From the chiefs of Nestle, Diageo, Colgate, PepsiCo, Zetwerk and CRED to AI visionaries, marketing mavens, top creators, ad legends and leading global agencies' CEOs, the brightest minds converged at the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit for an action-packed day of meaningful dialogues on creativity, commerce and culture.