Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue)
Central Board of Excise & Customs
Tariff Unit
229A, North Block, New Delhi,
22nd February, 2012.
To
All Chief Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Prev.),
All Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise,
All Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Prev.),
All Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise,
All Directors General under CBEC.
Sir / Madam,
Subject: Applicability of provisions of the Notifications No. 417 (E) dated
27.05.2011 on Molasses used in Hookah containing tobacco – regarding.
Reference has been received on import of molasses for use in hookah without
compliance of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling)
Rules, 2008 Rules, which prescribes the manner in which the specified health
warning shall be displayed on the tobacco product packs covering all types of
tobacco products produced, supplied and distributed in India. The Rules came
into effect from 31st May, 2009 and a set of new pictorial health warning has
been issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide Notification G.S.R.
No. 417 (E) dated 27th May, 2011 which came into force from 1st December, 2011.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has now confirmed that anything
containing tobacco is covered under the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products
(Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production,
Supply and Distribution) (COPTPA) Act, 2003.
- Accordingly, in continuation to the CBEC instruction of even number dated
30.11.2011, it is further clarified that imported Molasses used in Hookah
containing tobacco have to bear the new specified health warnings as prescribed
in the said Notification. A copy of the Rules is available on the Ministry’s
website: www.mohfw.nic.in under National Tobacco Control Programme.
Yours faithfully,
(Subodh Singh)
OSD (Customs), Tariff Unit
Fax: 011 - 23092173
F.No. 528/133/2011-STO (TU)