MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT EXTENDS BAN ON GUTKHA, PAANMASALA ANOTHER YEAR

MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT 

EXTENDS BAN ON GUTKHA, PAANMASALA ANOTHER YEAR

Taking the health hazards of all nicotine-laced gutkha and paan masala seriously, the Maharashtra government announced an extension on ban on these products for another year.Minister of State for Home Satej Patil informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly of the decision.Last July, the government had banned the sale, storage and consumption of nicotine-laced gutkha and paan masala in any form for a year, which was to end Friday (July 19).

Patil later said that the government move was prompted by the incidence of oral diseases, including cancer due to consumption of such gutkha and paan masala.Under the Food Safety & Standards Act, sale of items containing nicotine or tobacco (as in gutkha or paan masala) has been prohibited in the interest of public health, he added.As many as 26 states have so far banned gutkha and paan masala, besides five union territories.

Prof. John Kurakar