Sale of tobacco products banned
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 05 2022: The Health Department has declared total prohibition on sale, manufacture, distribution or use of all tobacco and nicotine added products including Gutkha, Pan Masala, Chaap Tobacco, Pure Tobacco, Khaini, Zarda and Scented/Flavoured Tobacco under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in the interest of the general public.

In a notification, Food Safety Commissioner, additional chief secretary (Health and FW) V Vumlunmang informed that since tobacco and nicotine added products are injurious to human health, the sale of consumable products containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients are prohibited under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011 .

In a recent decree the Supreme Court of India observed that to circumvent the ban on the sale of Gutka, manufacturers are selling pan masala (without tobacco) with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate sachets but often conjoined and sold together by the same vendors from the same premises, so that consumers can buy the pan masala and flavoured chewing tobacco and mix them both and consume the same.

As such the apex court directed the statutory authorities concerned to comply with the mandate of law of Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales), 2011 and directed the secretaries of Health Department of all the states and union territories to ensure total compliance of the ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of Gutka and Pan Masala with tobacco and/or nicotine, V Vumlunmang informed.

He informed that in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of Gutkha and Pan masala will be banned for a period of one year in Manipur.

Comment