Leading cigarette manufacturers Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) and ITC have resumed production after getting directions from the government on what kind of pictorial warnings should be displayed on the packets. ITC and GPI had stopped production of cigarettes on December 1, in view of uncertainty over the sort of pictorial warnings that needed to be carried on tobacco products starting this month.
ITC, whose brands include India Kings, Gold Flake and Navy Cut, had stopped production at all five units across the country. GPI had stalled production at two units on December 1. It makes brands like Four Square, Red and White and Cavanders.
The government on December 7 had decided to retain the existing pictorial warnings on cigarette and bidi packages for one more year.
