The Arvind Kejriwal Government has extended the ban for one year on the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco in the national Capital. A notification in this regard was issued by the Food and Safety department on Wednesday. As per notification, the ban will also be on all forms of unpackaged products of chewable tobacco, including “gutkha, pan masala, khaini and zarda”.
“The manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of tobacco which is either flavoured, scented or mixed and whether going by the name or form of gutkha, pan, masala, flavoured/scented tobacco, kharra, or otherwise form of tobacco whether packaged or unpackaged and/or sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consumer is prohibited for a period of one year,” the notification stated.
Despite the ban on these products — both gutka and tobacco — are sold in the city as a large number of shopkeepers are reportedly not aware about any such ban.
“The selling, transportation and manufacturing of chewing tobacco in any form, whether packed, unpacked or scented has been banned from today,” Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain said.
The AAP Government had earlier issued the notification in last year. The matter is sub-judice in the court. The current notification is the extension of the earlier issued notification.”
A senior officer said a notification was issued by the Delhi Government in September, 2012, in pursuance of a series of directions from the Supreme Court for a ban on ‘gutkha’ in the city. Since the term ‘gutkha’ was used in that notification, tobacco retailers started selling the components of ‘gutkha’ (betel nut and raw tobacco) in separate pouches, thus defeating the purpose behind the ban.
A senior health department officer said more than 10,000 people die of Oral Cancer caused by tobacco every year and in the interest of public health, the Government will not allow the sale, purchase and storage of gutka, pan masala, scented tobacco, kharra and similar products containing tobacco. The officer said the ban on such products will continue for next one year and thereafter, the Government will extend it every year owing to public interest. He said various citizens’ monitoring committees will be formed in every constituency to educate people about the ill-effects of such products.
Indian Medical Association and Heart Care Foundation of India has welcomed the decision of Delhi Government to ban for one year the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco, including guktha, pan masala, khaini and zarda.