India becomes first to regulate tobacco warnings on OTT platforms, reports

India: Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, South East Asis Region, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, shared an update on India becoming the first country to regulate anti-tobacco warnings on OTT Platforms.

Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, South East Asia Region, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, shared information in a message about India becoming the first country to regulate the anti-tobacco warnings on the OTT platforms and appreciated the government and its stakeholders to mark strong leadership and excellent landmark step in the world.

On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, world tobacco day, The union health minister, Mansukh Mandaviya of India, also shared his concern over the youth of the nation, which is the future of the country, highlighting the negative points regarding the consumption of Tobacco the Union Health Minister appealed to the child to break free from the shackles of Tobacco and embrace a healthier lifestyle.

The Union Minister of Health emphasises the guidelines released by the government on Thursday, May 31, 2023, on World tobacco day that is Anti-tobacco health messages displayed as a static message that must be readable and legible with black font on a white background and must include the warnings “ Tobacco causes cancer” or “Tobacco kills” made certain statements regarding the awareness from Tobacco.

The Union health ministry informed that the failure to comply with the provisions outlined might result in action taken by an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology either suo moto or on receiving a complaint. The committee will identify the publisher of the online curated content, issue a notice providing a reasonable opportunity to explain the failure and require appropriate modifications to the content.