OTT Platforms Face New Anti-tobacco Guidelines From Union Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry has proposed mandatory inclusion of 'non-skippable' anti-tobacco health spots lasting a minimum of 30 seconds, along with a 20-second audio-visual disclaimer highlighting the harmful effects of tobacco, to be shown at the start of content streaming on OTT platforms.

The ministry has also introduced draft amendments aimed at strengthening anti-tobacco regulations for over-the-top (OTT) services. According to the draft notification, any content featuring tobacco use released on OTT platforms after 1 September 2023, must display a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen throughout the duration of the scene.

Furthermore, all films released on or after that date, whether Indian or foreign and regardless of Central Board of Film Certification status are required to include a 30-second anti-tobacco spot at both the beginning and the middle of the film, a 20-second audio-visual disclaimer prior to the film and a static message during any scenes depicting tobacco use.

The draft allows platforms to make changes only to content released or published after the implementation of the new rules last year, addressing a significant concern raised by OTT providers.