News

Acting against illagal sale of flavoured chewing tobacco with pan masala in punjab, principal secretary health Anurag aggarwal has directed food safety department to crackdown on vendors flouting the norms.

There is a complete ban on sale and distribution of flavoured chewable tobacco. Anggarwal expressed displeasure over some manufacturers selling pan masala with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate sachets, often conjoint and sold together by the same vendors from the same premises intentionally.

He said notification had been issued regarding prohibition on manufacturing gutkha and pan masala processed or flavoured chewing tobacco and any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. He instructed the concerned departments to intensify the cheking of vendors to stop the sale of tobacco under the food safety and standart ( Prohibition and Restriction on Sales ) Regulations. He said it could also lead to cancellation of food license of premises if there is any storage or sale illegal tobacco products. FDA assistant commisioner Amit Joshi said 54 samples of tobacco and masalas were collected between January and August of which 20 samples were found non-conforming to standards.

Stating that cigarette packet sale without 85% pictorial warning is violation of the norms, he ordered strict action against the offenders

Source