Uttarakhand Bans Gutkha, Pan Masala and Tobacco-Mixed Food Products for One Year
The state's Food Safety Commissioner has ordered a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other food products containing tobacco or nicotine.
Current Summary
The Uttarakhand government has issued an order imposing a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other food products containing tobacco or nicotine, effective from the date of issuance. The order was issued by Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, citing the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations 2, 3 and 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which bar tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in food products. The order specifically invokes Regulation 2.3.4 of the 2011 regulations and Section 30(2)(a) of the 2006 Act, which authorizes the state Food Safety Commissioner to impose such a ban statewide for up to one year when necessary to protect public health. The ban also covers cases where tobacco or nicotine is mixed separately with food products at the point of sale, which officials say poses a public health threat. Copies of the order have been forwarded to the health department, district magistrates and chief medical officers for enforcement.
What We Know
- The ban covers manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and tobacco-nicotine mixed food products.
- It applies for one year from the date the order was issued.
- The order was issued by Food Safety Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Copies have been sent to the health department, district magistrates and chief medical officers for enforcement.
- Order invokes Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, and Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What Is Still Unclear
- Specific penalties for violation have not been detailed in available reporting.
- How enforcement will be carried out at the retail level is not specified.
What Changed
- 13 Oct, 12:21 pmThe order specifically invokes Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, and Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which authorizes the state Food Safety Commissioner to prohibit manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of food articles statewide for up to one year to protect public health.
- 13 Oct, 11:41 amSignal detected: Uttarakhand Bans Gutkha, Pan Masala and Tobacco-Mixed Food Products for One Year
Background
Gutkha and pan masala bans are periodically renewed by states under food safety law since tobacco and nicotine cannot legally be used as food ingredients under the 2011 regulations.