The Union Health Ministry has asked the inclusion of “non-skippable” anti-tobacco health spots with a minimum of 30 seconds, along with a 20-second audio-visual disclaimer about tobacco’s harmful effects, when content starts streaming on OTT platforms.

The ministry also released draft amendments that were intended to tighten anti-tobacco rules for over-the-top (OTT) services.

The draft notification declares that all content broadcast after September 1, 2023, on OTT platforms incorporating tobacco will have a static message in the center bottom of the screen with prominence for the duration of the scene.

All films, made in India or abroad, that receive a Central Board of Film Certification rating, and are made available to public viewing on or after the date mentioned, must feature a 30-second anti-tobacco spot both at the beginning and in the middle of the film, an audio-visual disclaimer during the first 20 seconds of the film, and a static message whenever tobacco is seen in the film.

The draft allows platforms to edit only the content released or published after the new rules came into effect last year, a key concern raised by the OTT platforms.