We are disappointed that the Indian Government has deferred by six months the implementation of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging. This is even more unfortunate because more than 100 countries last week unanimously adopted international standards for warning labels on tobacco packaging. India, once a leader in this area, is now falling behind.

The evidence is clear worldwide. Graphic health warnings help reduce tobacco use and discourage young people from starting in the first place; and the cost to the taxpayer is nothing.

We hope that the Government reaffirms its commitment to public health by aligning itself with the international community and by adopting these regulations as soon as possible. The World Lung Foundation pledges its support to once again make India a model for reducing the devastating harms of tobacco use." Submitted by Peter Baldini, Executive Director of the World Lung Foundation, New York, NY