One-day training program conducted for officers under COTPA

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 1: One day training programme of enforcement officers implementing Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 was today conducted by the Directorate of Health Services in collaboration with the Drugs and Food Control Organization (D&FCO).
On this occasion, a detailed presentation was given by Hilal Ahmad Mir, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Srinagar regarding various provisions of the Act and how it can be effectively implemented to bring the graph of active and passive smokers down.
He highlighted the need to confiscate all tobacco products which are being sold in violation of the Act, while adding that instead of inscribing pictorial warning on 85 per cent of the principal display area of a cigarette pack, “the pictures of fruits are depicted which tends to lure young generation towards smoking.”
He emphasized the greater synergy between various departments for the effective implementation of the COTPA. On the occasion, the role of the Drugs and Food Control Organisation as a nodal agency was also highlighted.
It was informed that cigarettes worth Rs 3,17,170 have been seized for violation of pictorial warning and an amount of Rs 63270 has been imposed for smoking at public places. Also, 40 cases have been instituted in the competent courts for violation of labelling requirements.
Dr Abdul Majeed, Professor and HOD GMC Baramulla highlighted the ill effects of smoking and how it adversely impacts all the body parts starting from the mouth up to the rectum.
On the occasion, Dr Naser State program coordinator gave a detailed presentation on the prevalence of tobacco at the Global, National and regional levels. He elaborated on the role of the Health Department in implementing the National Tobacco Control Program and State Tobacco Control Program.
Mushtaq Abbas Zakir, Nodal officer Cotpa Kashmir Division highlighted the importance of educating the masses regarding the ill effects of cigarette smoking besides effective implementation of Cotpa. The officers from Police, Health, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Education and Revenue participated in the training program.

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