Policy responses to smokeless tobacco (ST) in India during the COVID19 pandemic

Context:

Smokeless tobacco products use is increasingly becoming a serious health issue in India.

What is smokeless tobacco?

• Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is defined as a product that contains tobacco, is not smoked or burned at the time of use, and is commonly consumed orally or nasally.
• Some of the popular products in India include khaini, gutkha, zarda, betel quid with tobacco, tobacco tooth powder, tobacco toothpaste, etc.
• These products can be placed in the mouth, cheek, or lip and are sucked or chewed.

 

Harmful Chemicals

• Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, carcinogens, including very high levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).
  • TSNAs are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in chewing tobacco, snuff, and tobacco smoke.
• Other cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco are known to include:
  • Formaldehyde
  • Arsenic
  • Cadmium
  • Radioactive polonium-210

 

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

• The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO.
• The WHO FCTC represents a paradigm shift in developing a regulatory strategy to address addictive substances; in contrast to previous drug control treaties, the WHO FCTC asserts the importance of demand reduction strategies as well as supply issues.
• India has been a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) since 2005.