The Delhi government has banned all forms of chewable tobacco in the national capital for a period of one year. The Department of Food Safety on Wednesday issued a notification regarding the ban which prohibits consumption, purchase and storage of such products.
“The manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of tobacco which is either flavored, scented or mixed… and whether going by the name or form of gutka, pan, masala, flavored/scented tobacco, kharra, or otherwise… 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—said the notification.
Back in 2012, the Delhi government had banned gutka. However, vendors began selling betel nut and tobacco in separate packages. People would simply mix the ingredients and make gutka themselves defeating the purpose of the whole ban. The new proposal was devised to fix this flaw.
