The Union Health Ministry has proposed a compulsory display of “non-skippable” anti-tobacco health spots and an audio-visual disclaimer of tobacco effects on OTT platforms when such content is playing on the platform.
The ads are to be at least 30 seconds long and the audio-visual content for 20 seconds, as per reports. Recently, the Ministry issued draft amendments for anti-tobacco rules to be followed by the OTT platforms.
As per the draft, irrespective of their Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) standing, all Indian and foreign films released on or after September 1, 2023, have to include health spots at the beginning and middle of the film.
Furthermore, the draft proposed that during scenes that showcase tobacco use, the OTT platforms should play anti-tobacco warnings as prominent static messages at the bottom.
The OTT rules 2023 came into effect on September 1, 2023, and mandates all streaming platforms in India to comply with the latest anti-tobacco regulations.
