NEW DELHI: India will push for higher taxes and stringent regulations for smokeless tobacco products in the upcoming international conference on WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).The seventh conference of parties (COP7), which will be hosted by India this year, will be attended by around 1800 delegates from 180 countries.“We have taken a lead in regulating smokeless tobacco. However, it is still lacks focus globally. We will seek stringent regulations for smokeless tobacco and negotiate with other parties to control it,” health secretary CK Mishra said.The COP will also discuss emerging tobacco products such as electronic tobacco delivering system and institutional matters. Gender-specific risks due to tobacco consumption and its impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs) like health, education and environment are among the key agendas that are likely to dominate discussions at the five day meet beginning November 7.“Tobacco control is a movement we need to work on,” Mishra said, adding it is not only about laws and regulations but also about acceptance.Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will address the COP as a special speaker on the inaugural day.While India has already successfully implemented 85% pictorial warning on packs of all tobacco products, Mishra said the government will gradually move towards plain packaging. “We have so far moved step by step. We have plain packaging in mind but right now we do not have a specific plan for that,” Mishra said.According to the WHO, tobacco-related diseases kill over 10 lakh Indians every year.India has taken significant steps to implement decisions of previous COP sessions. As per the decisions taken during the sixth session of COP, India has set up a global knowledge hub on smokeless tobacco at National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR). This hub serves as a repository of knowledge related to smokeless tobacco.