Bengaluru: The State government on Wednesday banned the sale of flavoured chewing tobacco that is being sold in sachets as an alternative to the now banned gutka, following the the directions from the Supreme Court.
Flavoured chewing tobacco like ‘zarda’, ‘khaini’, ‘mawa’, ‘masheri’ and pan masala were being sold in sachets after the State banned manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of ghutka in May 2013. The sachets were being clipped and sold together by the same vendors from the same shop premises so that consumers could mix the two and consume it.
Vishal Rao, member of the high powered committee on Tobacco Control said that the Supreme Court in its order dated Sept. 23, directed Principal Secretaries (Health and Family Welfare) of all States to take steps to ban all forms of the product and submit a compliance report by November 9. Following the directions, the State Health Department on Wednesday issued an order directing all deputy commissioners, designated officers and food safety officers to ensure that the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of tobacco and pan masala in separate sachets or in unpackaged form is prohibited.
