Four joint enforcement teams constituted by the office of the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, seized 292 packets of cigarettes that did not carry mandatory pictorial health warnings during a special inspection drive on June 30, 2026.
Surprise Inspections Across Ludhiana
Acting on the directions of Kamalpreet Kaur Brar, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Punjab, the teams — each comprising a drug inspector, a food safety officer and a police official — conducted checks at seven cigarette and tobacco retail outlets in different parts of the city.
At one shop, officials recovered 292 packets of cigarettes that violated the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The entire stock was seized on the spot, and a show-cause notice was issued to the shopkeeper. Further legal proceedings have been initiated under COTPA provisions.
Commitment to Public Health
Dr Ramandeep Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, said, “The district administration is fully committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring strict compliance with tobacco control laws.” She emphasized that mandatory pictorial health warnings are a critical public health measure aimed at educating consumers about serious health risks associated with tobacco use, particularly among the youth.
Dr Kaur appealed to wholesalers, distributors and retailers to sell only tobacco products bearing prescribed pictorial health warnings. She warned that any violation of COTPA provisions would invite stringent legal action.
Call for Public Support
The Civil Surgeon urged residents to support the government’s tobacco control initiatives by reporting the sale of illegal or non-compliant tobacco products to health authorities. She reiterated that enforcement drives would continue across Ludhiana to curb the sale of illicit tobacco products and promote a healthier, tobacco-free society.
The special drive highlights the district administration’s zero-tolerance approach towards tobacco law violations and its commitment to reducing tobacco consumption through strict enforcement and public awareness.
