Cigarette and tobacco firms will have to display health warnings on all packages of cigarettes and tobacco products, starting 1 February 2007.

The government has specified that health warnings must include the message “tobacco kills” or “smoking kills”, as well as graphic images of ill-effects of tobacco use. Moreover, India reportedly becomes the first country to introduce the display of a skull and bones sign on cigarette packages.   
There will also be more stringent penalty for non-compliance. Any person, who manufactures cigarettes without the specified warning, in the case of first conviction, will be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with a fine which may extend to Rs 5,000 (US$ 107), or with both. (pi)