Gutkha ban: Health Ministry mulls penalising cos for ad blitz

The Ministry, however, is yet to decide which of its department is competent to impose penalties on the violators of specific sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

"A call in this respect will be taken next week," Director of Tobacco Control in the Ministry Amal Pusp said today on the sidelines of a function organised by anti-tobacco groups to counter misinformation which these firms are spreading through ads by questioning the legality of gutkha ban by 14 states.

These states have enforced the ban in view of the recent Central notification which says tobacco and nicotine cannot be mixed with gutkha, which the Supreme Court has ruled as a food product.

 

The Ministry today came together with NGOs Voluntary Health Association of India and Public Health Foundation of India to launch a counter offensive against smokeless tobacco firms.

Led by Smokeless Tobacco Association, All India Kattha Factories Association and the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative, these companies have been questioning the Health Ministry notification as to why the ban is imposed on gutkha and not on cigarettes. (More)