FDA to destroy seized gutkha worth Rs 2.70 cr in Pune

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will tomorrow destroy in Pune gutkha worth Rs 2.70 crore it had seized from this district last year.
"The gutkha of Goa-1000 brand was intercepted and seized by FDA, Konkan division, during a raid carried out at Kirti Industries at Dundalwadi in Dahanu in the district in August 2012 when it was being smuggled out for export, FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) P M Raut told PTI.
The Bombay High Court had in 2012 upheld the ban on gutkha and pan masala -- both flavoured tobacco products.
The high court had last year refused to quash the seizure order of the gutkha consignment, observing export of any food product, the manufacture of which is in contravention to the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), is restricted.

The gutkha manufactured by Kirti Industries at Silvassa was to be exported to United Arab Emirates (UAE) for sale there.
"The seized stock will be taken from FDA headquarters in suburban Bandra of Mumbai to Pune and destroyed in the premises of Rokem Greenfield there," Raut said.