Cigarette industry body Tobacco Institute of India (TII), on behalf of its members including ITC Ltd, Godfrey Phillips and VST Industries, said: Members of TII, who account for more than 98% of the countrys domestic sales of duty paid cigarettes in India, have unanimously decided to shut all their cigarette factories with effect from April 1, 2016. Owing to ambiguity on the policy related to revision of graphic health warnings on tobacco product packs, the members are unable to continue manufacturing cigarettes from April 1, 2016. Syed Mahmood Ahmad, director, TII, said: The Indian tobacco industry has written to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 15th March, 2016 seeking clarification on the matter. Fearing potential violation of rules by continuing production, TII members have decided to shut their factories
Lion Shahab, said: Many smokers believe that roll-your-own cigarettes are more natural and therefore are less harmful than manufactured cigarettes
All user groups reported no past 3-day use of nicotine replacement therapies
After the states highest court upheld the rule following a legal challenge, nearly two dozen other communities in Massachusetts adopted similar bans
This is a simple issue, but it reflects the professionalism of the manufacturer