Drive Against Tobacco Products in East Kameng, Seppa

A CORRESPONDENT

SEPPA: Personnel of the district administration along with enforcement squad of the District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) East Kameng, Seppa jointly carried out surprise checkings against tobacco products at various places in the Seppa township, and seized a huge quantity of it on Sunday.

The special drive was conducted primarily at such locations where tobacco shops are operating within 100 yards of schools. The main objective behind the checking was to warn and educate the owners of restaurants, hotels and distributors of tobacco products on the provisions under ‘The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003’ or ‘COTPA, 2003’.

An order issued earlier by the district administration stated that, any person found violating the Act will be punished according to the framed law.

During the drive, a team comprizing EAC Atin Padung, Dr. K. Gyadi DPO; DFCSO Buru Laling; APO (DEO) Topo Sangdo; advocate Tutu Dolo and DTCC staffs created awareness on various provision of the Act which prohibits the sale or purchase of tobacco and tobacco products by a minor below 18 years of age.

It also informed that under the COTPA Act, there is prohibition on the sale of any tobacco products within the area of 100 yards from any educational institution, and prohibits the sale, distribution or supply of any tobacco product without labeling specifying health warning on the packet.

Further, the team also distributed posters, placards, public notices to the owners of the tobacco shops and local vendors. Moreover, those restaurants found not displaying the ‘No-Smoking’ signs were imposed fine under the law and a boy below 18 years of age found selling tobacco products were also fined on the spot.