The health department of Rajasthan has rolled out new orders on prevention of the sale of products which are sold to make gutkha or pan masala as the end product in the state. These ingredients contain tobacco and nicotine.
Dr. B R Meena who is commissioner of food safety has directed all related officers to make sure that, “manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutkha and pan masala (containing tobacconicotine) or any other product marketed separately to constitute gutkha or pan masala as final product, by whatsoever name called, whether packaged or unpackaged andor sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such a manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consumer is prohibited in Rajasthan state”.
Back in July, 2012, state government had prohibited the manufacturing, storing, distributing and sale of guthka pan and masala product. In spite of putting the ban, tobacco and pan masala is in open sale in pouches. A guthka consumer mix both the ingredients, tobacco and pan masala to make guthka and use it.
The order says that, “The Supreme Court in Central Arecanut Marketing Corporation and Others Vs Union of India (Transfer Case (C) 1of 2010) in its order dated 23092016, observed that, to circumvent the ban on the sale of gutkha, the manufacturers are selling pan masala (without tobacco) with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate sachets but often conjoint 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. Hence instead of the earlier “ready to consume mixes,” chewing tobacco companies are selling gutkha in twin packs to be mixed as one”.
Supreme Court has made directions to secretaries, Union territories and health departments of the state to make sure of proper imposition of ban on the manufacturing and sale of pan masala and guthka which are equipped with tobacco nicotine. In compliance with the Supreme Court order, immediate orders were issued by the health department on December 15 to make prevention on the sale of these kind of products.
