New Cigarette Labelling Text Postponed to 31 August 2018
[CBIC Circular No. 20/2018-Customs
dated 20 June 2018]
Subject: Cigarettes and other
Tobacco products (Packaging and Labelling), Second Amendment Rules, 2018.
Kindly refer to CBEC instructions vide F. No.
450/160/2009-Cus.IV dated 29.12.2009 and letters vide F. No.
528/133/2011-STO(TU) dated 30.11.2011 and 22.02.2012 sensitizing the officers
about the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling)
Rules, 2008 and implementation thereof with regard to the specified health
warnings on the cigarettes and other tobacco products.
2. Attention is also invited to Board’s Circular No.
09/2017-Customs dated 29.03.2017, Board’s letter of even No. dated 05.04.2017
and Board’s Circular No. 27/2017-Customs dated 05.07.2017, on disposal of
seized/ confiscated cigarettes of foreign origin vis-à-vis provisions of the
Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules 2008.
3. Now, MoH&FW vide Notification GSR 283 (E) dated
26.03.2018 has notified the Cigarettes and other Tobacco products (Packaging
and Labelling) Amendment Rules 2018 (effective from 01.04.2018) which prescribe
that:
“in
Rule 5 the ibid Rules, after the proviso below sub-rule (3), the following
sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: -
(4)
Notwithstanding anything contained in the sub-rule (1) to (3), if the specified
health warnings provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Schedule are not amended
by the Central Government with new specified health warnings at the end of the
rotation period of the next rotation period, then the existing specified health
warnings for the second twelve months shall continue for a further period of
till the 31st day of the August 2018.”
Thus, the existing specified health warning will continue
till 31st August 2018.
4. Further,
the MoH&FW vide
Cigarettes and
other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Second Amendment
Rules, 2018 notified by G.S.R. 331 (E) dated 03.04.2018 has specified a new set of health warnings which shall come into
force on the 1st day of September, 2018.
5. In view of the above, it is requested that in addition to the existing statutory
requirements, compliance of the amendments in health warning specifications
prescribed by the COTP Amendment Rules, 2018 may also be ensured before
clearance of import consignments or disposal of seized/confiscated tobacco
products, including Cigarettes.
6. The Pr. Chief I Chief
Commissioners/Directors General are requested to circulate the aforesaid
amended guidelines lo all
formations under their charge for compliance.
Difficulties, if any, in implementation
of the aforesaid guidelines maybe brought to the notice of the Board.
File No. 528/133/2011-STO (TU)
Encl.
1. Copy of
Notification G.S.R. 283 (E) dated26.03.2018 of MOH& FW;
2. CopyofNotifJCationG.S.R.331 (E) dated03.04.2018 of MOH&
FW.