The Indian state of Punjab today lifted its ban on the manufacture of gutkha, pan masala and other processed, flavoured and scented ‘food’ products containing tobacco or nicotine, according to a story in the SinghStation.
So the production of chewable tobacco products will now be allowed and only their storage, sale and distribution will be prohibited within Punjab.
Punjab was among the first of India’s states to ban the production of chewing tobacco after the Union Health Ministry in August 2011 framed new rules to prevent the adulteration of food.
In all, 12 states banned the production and sale of gutkha and pan masala.
Asked why the state had decided to withdraw the ban on manufacture, the Punjab Food Safety Commissioner, Hussan Lal, told media representatives that the blanket ban was hurting the state’s tobacco industry.
“At present, there are 20 states without blanket bans on production and even sale of chewing and scented tobacco,” he said.
“Punjab imposed an initial full ban on Center’s directions but later we realised that our tobacco industry was suffering.
“Only a nationwide ban on production and sale of chewing and flavoured tobacco can work.”