- Business Today
Netflix, Hotstar, Prime Video to get tobacco headache; govt issues strict new mandate
On World No Tobacco Day, the Union health ministry has taken a significant step towards curbing tobacco consumption by notifying amended rules under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2004. These rules now make it mandatory for Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms to display anti-tobacco warnings, similar to those seen in movies screened in theatres and TV programs.
As per the new notification, publishers of online curated content that showcases tobacco products or their use will be required to incorporate anti-tobacco health spots, each lasting a minimum of 30 seconds, at the beginning and middle of their programs. Additionally, they must display a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen, serving as an anti-tobacco health warning whenever tobacco products or their use are shown during the program.