In a bid to tackle the alarming rates of tobacco use and cancer incidence in Nagaland, the state government has introduced Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL). In a press note issued by State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Program under Health and Family Welfare department, the modalities for TVL in Nagaland was approved by government on January 16, 2024 and circulated to all Urban Local Bodies (ULB) on February 6.
This follows the Union Health Ministry’s directive to all state governments in 2021, recommending licensing of tobacco vendors as a pivotal step towards enforcing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA 2003).
The mechanism has been developed to provide permission authorisation through urban local bodies (ULBs) to retail shops selling tobacco and/or nicotine for not only properly enforcing COTPA 2003, but also making licensing policy mandatory for tobacco vendors in the state. The licensing system would curtail illicit trade and enhance revenue to the civic body.
As per the guidelines, any person carrying out or intending to conduct retail business of tobacco products should make an application to the ULB concerned, on receipt of which the ULB would grant TVL within 2 months. The licence would be issued for one year and could be renewed on payment.
However, the licence would not be granted to vendors within a radius of 300 feet of any educational institution or other youth-oriented location or residential zones. It would also not be granted to vendors operating by roadside or kiosk locations.
TVL would be granted only to those vendors who already have a trade licence from municipal authorities, while the permissible number of vendors would be limited to one for every 1,000 population and the number of licences per ward to be issued would be no more than in the ratio of 1:10 shops.
As per the rules and regulations, the TVL holders must act in accordance with the provisions of COPTA 2003 and refrain from selling tobacco alongside other specified products, for instance in pharmacies, and products appealing to children like biscuits, chocolates, soft drinks, etc.
The TVL holders would also have to refrain from selling loose cigarettes or distributing free products as promotional items. Further, they cannot sell, offer for sale or permit sale of cigarette or any other tobacco product to any person under the age of 18 years.
TVL should be kept affixed at a conspicuous place in the premises in such manner as to be visible to everyone, and no photocopy would be entertained.
The licence would be non-transferable, and the license holder would have to carry the business in compliance with all rules and regulations of Central/state/local self-government that might come into force from time to time.
The town/municipal council reserves the right to impose penalty/cancel the TVL and the trade license for breach of any of the above-mentioned terms and conditions.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), 43.3% of adults in Nagaland are tobacco users, while 43% of school-going children (13-15 years) also reported to be using tobacco, as per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4). Notably, there is high prevalence of cancer in the state.
RELATED POSTS
View all
