The Jharkhand government has announced a one-year ban on the sale, manufacture, storage, and distribution of gutkha and pan masala throughout the state. This decision was made by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which issued a notification enforcing the ban under Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as well as the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Health Minister Irfan Ansari highlighted the health dangers linked to gutkha, particularly its connection to oral cancer. This initiative is aimed at safeguarding public health, especially among the youth, from the detrimental effects of tobacco use.
Key Highlights of the Ban
Scope of the Ban
- The prohibition applies to the manufacture, storage, sale, and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.
Legal Action
- Individuals and businesses violating the ban will face strict legal action as per the notification.
- ACS-cum-Food Safety Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh issued the order and directed the Director, PRD to publish the notification for public awareness.
Reason for the Ban
- The state is witnessing a rapid increase in oral cancer cases, with 40-45 out of every 70 cancer patients per one lakh population suffering due to gutkha consumption.
