National Consultation on Smokeless Tobacco use, attributed to 90% oral cancers: Challenges in implementation of COTPA and the ban under provisions of FSSAI

It is being organized by Strategic Institute of Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER), E-Resource Centre
for Tobacco Control (E-RCTC) under Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER
Chandigarh, and The Union South-East Asia (The Union) Smokeless tobacco (SLT) contributes to the global burden of disease, disability and death, with the highest-burden on India and the Southeast Asia region. It is attributed to 90% of oral cancers. India has taken tobacco control steps both at national and sub-national levels which has resulted in a significant reduction in tobacco use between 2009- 2010 and 2016-2017 but with wide regional variations.

There is a wide gap in existing SLT control policies and their enforcement due to lack of research, training,
capacity and adequate resources. Several tobacco control policies applicable to smoking products hitherto did not
apply to SLT products.

High SLT burden countries including India, especially its 13 high SLT burden states, should adopt and implement
comprehensive tobacco control policies in line with WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC)
and beyond to curb SLT use.

Greater policy focus and multi-stakeholder commitment for SLT control research, training, capacity and resources
will help high SLT burden countries meet their WHO FCTC obligations.
In this background, we have planned a virtual National Consultation on “Smokeless Tobacco use attributed to 90%
oral cancers: Challenges in implementation of COTPA and the ban under provisions of FSSAI” on 6th February
2021” This virtual consultation will be for 90 Minutes. It will be streamed live on YouTube.