NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry has proposed amendments mandating non-skippable anti-tobacco health spots and disclaimers on over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Streaming services such as Netflix , Amazon Prime , and others will be required to display 30-second health warnings and 20-second audio-visual disclaimers on the dangers of tobacco use as soon as users start the platform, under the draft rules.
The ministry’s draft is titled 'The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2024', introduces stricter regulations compared to the 2023 rules. These new proposals apply to both Indian and foreign films, regardless of their Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) status.
India became the first country in May 2022 to make it mandatory for OTT platforms to display anti-tobacco warnings, similar to those in theatres and on television. The rules officially took effect from 1 September 2023 and now enforce stricter measures.
"Now, streaming platforms will have to show these health spots and disclaimers not just at the beginning and middle of programmes but immediately upon opening the platform", according to an official source. This is a step up from the previous regulations, which required health warnings only at specific points within films and shows but not upon launching the platform.
Furthermore, anti-tobacco messages will appear as important static warnings at the bottom of the screen during any scenes depicting the use of tobacco products.
The ministry’s draft is titled 'The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2024', introduces stricter regulations compared to the 2023 rules. These new proposals apply to both Indian and foreign films, regardless of their Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) status.
India became the first country in May 2022 to make it mandatory for OTT platforms to display anti-tobacco warnings, similar to those in theatres and on television. The rules officially took effect from 1 September 2023 and now enforce stricter measures.
"Now, streaming platforms will have to show these health spots and disclaimers not just at the beginning and middle of programmes but immediately upon opening the platform", according to an official source. This is a step up from the previous regulations, which required health warnings only at specific points within films and shows but not upon launching the platform.
Furthermore, anti-tobacco messages will appear as important static warnings at the bottom of the screen during any scenes depicting the use of tobacco products.
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