GUWAHATI: The Centre's draft Cigarettes & Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply & Distribution) Amendment Act, 2020 aims to raise the minimum age for the sale of cigarettes & tobacco to 21 years, from 18 years.
Amendment also includes only sealed packs for sale and hiking the GST on cigarettes.
According to the amendments proposed in the bill, "No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit sale of, cigarette or any other tobacco product - (a) to or by any person who is under twenty-one years of age, and in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution."
Section 7 has been amended saying, "Provided that the trade and commerce in cigarette or any other tobacco product shall be in sealed, intact and original packaging."
The amendment also says that no person should directly or indirectly produce, supply or distribute cigarettes or any other tobacco products unless every pack of cigarettes or any other tobacco product produced, supplied or distributed by him is having minimum quantity as may be prescribed.
Violation of this section will lead to imprisonment of two years or fine up to Rs 1 lakh and a second conviction will lead to prison for 5 years or fine up to Rs 5 lakhs.
