Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 21: A new study by the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) has revealed the widespread availability of unregulated herbal tobacco cessation products (HTCPs) across major Indian e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, JioMart, and Meesho. These products are being marketed with unverified health claims and minimal regulatory compliance, raising serious concerns for consumer protection and tobacco control.
The study, published in the BMJ's Tobacco Control journal, identified 316 unique HTCPs — including herbal capsules, lozenges, powders, gutkha substitutes, and herbal smokes — many of which are pitched as “natural” and “safe” alternatives to standard pharmacological treatments. However, researchers warn that most lack scientific backing on their safety or effectiveness.
Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, the lead author and scientist at ICMR-NICPR, stressed the need for immediate policy action: “These products are being sold widely without proper oversight, and often with misleading claims. Strengthened regulation aligned with WHO guidelines is urgently needed.”
Key findings from the study include:
• Only 12% of the products displayed age restrictions, and none implemented proper age verification.
• 43.7% promoted other unrelated health benefits like detoxification and stress relief.
• Products were sold in three major formats: combustibles (42.7%), raw herbal preparations (34.5%), and others like capsules and patches (22.8%).
• Flavours ranged from apple and paan to gulkand, with prices spanning from ?15 to ?1,467.
• A significant 62.3% of listings carried at least one form of quality or certification claim, including ISO (23.4%), AYUSH systems (20.3%), GMP (15.2%), and FSSAI (13.2%).
The study also noted misleading affiliations, with 0.5% of products referencing the World Health Organization (WHO), potentially implying false endorsements.
As herbal tobacco alternatives become increasingly accessible and popular, especially online, experts say urgent regulatory oversight is needed to ensure public safety, prevent misinformation, and uphold the objectives of India's tobacco control policies.