Appeal made for national gutkha ban

The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, has asked the country’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to implement an India-wide ban on the chewing tobacco product known as gutkha, according to a story in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

By bringing in such a ban, Chandy said,Indiawould send a clear signal of its commitment to public health.

Bans have been imposed on gutkha and other chewing tobacco products on a state-by-state basis and currently 14 states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh prohibit the sale and manufacture of such products.

But with only about half of the country’s states having imposed bans, further business opportunities are likely to arise in those states where prohibitions are not in force.