A Study on Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) Compliance in Urban Shimoga, Karnataka

Abstract

Background:Tobacco is the only legal product that kills a large proportion of consumers when used as intended by the manufacturers.India has amended its legislation against tobacco in 2003 and implemented its strongest legislation as COTPA 2003 (Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003). The main aim of the study was to assess compliance to prohibition of smokingand other provisions under COTPA in Shivamogga town.Materials and methods:Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted using purposive sampling. Total sample size was 200, observation was made and information was collected about sections 4, 5, 6a, 7,8and 9 of COTPA 2003 (Cigarette and Other Tobacco products Act 2003), to assess its level of compliance and implementation.Results:Only in 25 to 30% of the places the displayed signage were according to law i.e. regarding size, picture, and message in local language, size of the text and text as per law.