Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, taking serious note of the continuous sale of tobacco products in the State despite ban, on Monday directed the State Health and Family Welfare Department to ensure strict implementation of the ban.
Chief Minister has issued strict instructions to the Department to crackdown on violations of the ban order and ensure deterrent action against the violators under the relevant provisions of the law.
He made it clear that the source of the manufacture and sale of the banned products should also be identified and plugged without delay to prevent the problem escalating out of control.
Chief Minister’s directives in the wake of reports regarding sale of banned tobacco-laced products such as gutka and pan masala despite a notification issued by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Punjab FDA issues notification, banning loose products as well as loose tobacco and cigarettes and hookah bars, in the state every year. The latest notification to this effect was issued in February 2017 and remains in force till February 2018.
The ban on loose tobacco and cigarettes relates to products without specified health warnings under Section 7 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), said the spokesperson, adding that the provisions of the Act apply to all tobacco-related products, whether packaged or unpackaged or sold as single unit or separate products.
The notification is in line with the Supreme Court orders prohibiting sale of pan masala (without tobacco) and flavoured chewing tobacco in separate sachets.