The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) has urged the Karnataka Government to ensure that the implementation of the prohibition on the sale and distribution of tobacco- and nicotine-containing products remains confined to the products covered by the relevant notification.
CAMPCO seeks protection for arecanut trade
In a statement, CAMPCO president S.R. Satishchandra said the co-operative had taken note of the Government notification issued on Monday and the subsequent statement issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration on Wednesday.
CAMPCO stressed that enforcement of the prohibition should not result in any indirect restriction on arecanut as an agricultural commodity or affect its legitimate cultivation, procurement, processing and trade.
Enforcement targets prohibited products
The State Government has said stringent enforcement measures are being undertaken in the interest of public health.
The measures include special inspections targeting the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other prohibited products containing tobacco and/or nicotine.
CAMPCO’s intervention comes amid the enforcement of the prohibition, with the co-operative seeking a clear distinction between prohibited tobacco and nicotine products and arecanut, which is an agricultural commodity cultivated and traded extensively in Karnataka.
Clear implementation sought
CAMPCO has called for clarity in the implementation of the notification to ensure that legitimate stakeholders in the arecanut sector do not face unintended restrictions.
The co-operative maintained that measures aimed at curbing prohibited tobacco and nicotine products should remain within the scope of the notification while allowing lawful agricultural and commercial activities involving arecanut to continue.