Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society (MSTCS)
Health & Family Welfare Department,
Government of Mizoram

COTPA RULES 2008

The Control of Tobacco Products Act, commonly known as COTPA, came into effect in 2004. The Act covers prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production supply and distribution of tobacco products.

The Act-short title called: Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules – 2008 closes loopholes which allowed smoking in some public places. The rules, which officially become law on October 2nd , do not allow smoking in any public places where non-smokers may be present.

Public places include; workplaces, shopping malls, airports, bus and train stations, hotels, cinema halls, shops and restaurant.

Currently, hotels with 30 or more rooms or restaurants with 30 or more tables can have a smoking area. The latest rules differ in the sense that smoking areas in these places now have to be physically separated with full height walls, automatically closing doors, and separate negative air pressure to not allow smoke to drift outwards. This space will also only be allowed for the purposes of smoking and no other services will be allowed.

Furthermore, no ashtrays, lighters or other objects to facilitate smoking shall be provided in the smoke free places outside of the regulation smoking areas.

Signage specifications as per the revised COTPA regulations can be sourced from the secondhandssmokekills directory – COTPA signage

COTPA SIGNAGE

Signage Specifications

The following are signage specifications to comply with COTPA 2008 revisions

  • The board shall be of minimum size of 60cm by 30cm of white background
  • It shall contain a circle of no less than 15cm outer diameter with a red perimeter of no less than 3cm wide with a picture, in the centre, of a cigarette or beedi with black smoke and crossed by a red band
  • The width of the red band across the cigarette shall equal the width of the red perimeter
  • The board shall contain the warning “ No Smoking Area-Smoking Here is an Offence,” in English or one Indian language, as applicable
  • The board shall be prominently displayed at each entrance of the public place and a conspicuous place(s) inside

Option 1. No Smoking Signage to Be Displayed At All Public Places

Option 1

Option 2. COTPA SMOKEFREE PLACE ENTRY SIGN

Option 2

Please note the above options are the preferred options for COTPA mandatory signage. This signage can be downloaded for provision to sign writers.

In addition to the above COTPA mandatory signage, a board containing the name of the person to whom a complaint maybe made should be displayed as follows

In case someone smokes here, please lodge a complaint to:
Name              :- Mr__________________
Designation  :- Manager____________
Phone no       :-

Management Responsibility

It will be the responsibility of the owners, managers and proprietors of establishments which cater to the public, to ensure that no person smokes within that public place and that the COTPA signage is prominently displayed conspicuously at their venue entries.