The UT Administration on Tuesday imposed ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine in the Union Territory of Chandigarh for one year.
The orders were issued by UT Commissioner of Food Safety Anil Kumar, who is empowered under Section 30 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 to prohibit for one year the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any article of food in the interest of public health in the UT of Chandigarh.
The orders reads, “The Administration, in pursuance of Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, prohibited the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of Gutkha (which includes Premium Maaldar in Gutkha, Swagat Gutkha, Shikhar Gutkha, Premium Harpal Gutkha and Premium RMD Gutkha) and Panmasala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by whatsoever name it is available in the market, in the city.”
In the past, the neighbouring States — Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had banned manufacturing, storage, distribution or sale of gutkha pan masala, zarda or other chewable products containing tobacco and nicotine in their respective State.
Earlier, Chandigarh had become a smoke free city on July 15, 2007 but the sale of products containing tobacco and nicotine had continued in the city.
The use of tobacco in any form could lead to cancer of oral cavity, esophagus, pancreas, etc. and other health problems, as hypertension, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular diseases.
According to National Tobacco Control Programme, Chandigarh, “There is alarming prevalence of tobacco use among the students in India. As many as 36.9 per cent children take to smoking before the age of 10; 55.1 per cent boys and 32.1 per cent girls.”
Given this scenario, the UT Administration in the year 2009, had also issued guidelines to fix a ‘tobacco free school’ board outside the main entrance of the school; ensure no sale of tobacco products inside the premises and within a radius of 100 yards from the school; and prohibition of smoking or chewing of tobacco inside the premise by students, teachers or any other member of the staff and visitors.