Mumbai: Ever since the state government promulgated the stringent notification on July 20, the food and drug administration sleuths have so far seized Gutkha and Paan masala worth Rs 6.3 crore from 469 premises across the state.
The FDA's action assumes significant importance in view of the fact that more than a dozen leading Gutkha and Paan masala manufacturers have filed writ petitions before the Bombay high court against the decision of the government. It's a fact that several writ petitions have been filed before the High Court. Since the court has not stayed the notification, we are seizing the banned production. However, court has asked us not to destroy the seized product, as such, the seized quantity of Gutkha and Paan masala has been kept in our divisional offices or local go-downs,'' a senior FDA official told ToI on Wednesday.
After a prolonged delay and marathon debate in the state cabinet, the state government on July 11 decided to invoke the provisions of the food safety and standards act, 2006 to imposed a complete ban on sale, stocking and consumption of Gutkha and Paan masala across the state. Under the act, the food and drug administration commissioner is empowered to issue a notification for the purpose. Accordingly, FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagde on July 20 issued a notification. Even as a notification was issues, there were apprehensions over effective implementation of the ban, however, the results of the decision were visible, after Zagde involved all the district collectors, superintendents of police, municipal commissioners and law enforcing agencies at all levels. Our contention is that consumption of Gutkha or Paan masala is the main source of oral cancer. Under such circumstances it was felt that even if we lost a revenue of Rs 100 crore by way of tax on Gutkha and Paan masala, we were saving a huge amount on treatment of cancer,'' he said.
On the contention of the Gutkha manufacturers, the FDA officials said, they have challenged the powers of the state government to issue such a notification and have contested the ill-effects of consumption of Gutkha and Paan masala.
Significantly, the official said though initially most of the leading politicians, including a section of cabinet members, were in favour of a complete ban, now they were dithering on the decision. Our information is that efforts are on in certain quarters to dilute the July 20 notification for the benefit of the Gutkha manufacturers. But we will not succumb to pressure and we are sure, our notification will stand scrutiny of law,'' the FDA official said.
Region..................premises raided............cost of seized Gutkha
Mumbai..................30...........................Rs 92.39 lakh
Thane.....................17............................Rs 35.43 lakh
Pune........................54...........................Rs 50.85 lakh
Nashik.....................23............................Rs 49.58 lakh
Aurangabad...............72............................Rs 30.7 lakh
Amravati...................29............................Rs 19.69 lakh
Nagpur......................28............................Rs 33.04 lakh
Total........................469............................Rs6.3 crore
The FDA's action assumes significant importance in view of the fact that more than a dozen leading Gutkha and Paan masala manufacturers have filed writ petitions before the Bombay high court against the decision of the government. It's a fact that several writ petitions have been filed before the High Court. Since the court has not stayed the notification, we are seizing the banned production. However, court has asked us not to destroy the seized product, as such, the seized quantity of Gutkha and Paan masala has been kept in our divisional offices or local go-downs,'' a senior FDA official told ToI on Wednesday.
After a prolonged delay and marathon debate in the state cabinet, the state government on July 11 decided to invoke the provisions of the food safety and standards act, 2006 to imposed a complete ban on sale, stocking and consumption of Gutkha and Paan masala across the state. Under the act, the food and drug administration commissioner is empowered to issue a notification for the purpose. Accordingly, FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagde on July 20 issued a notification. Even as a notification was issues, there were apprehensions over effective implementation of the ban, however, the results of the decision were visible, after Zagde involved all the district collectors, superintendents of police, municipal commissioners and law enforcing agencies at all levels. Our contention is that consumption of Gutkha or Paan masala is the main source of oral cancer. Under such circumstances it was felt that even if we lost a revenue of Rs 100 crore by way of tax on Gutkha and Paan masala, we were saving a huge amount on treatment of cancer,'' he said.
On the contention of the Gutkha manufacturers, the FDA officials said, they have challenged the powers of the state government to issue such a notification and have contested the ill-effects of consumption of Gutkha and Paan masala.
Significantly, the official said though initially most of the leading politicians, including a section of cabinet members, were in favour of a complete ban, now they were dithering on the decision. Our information is that efforts are on in certain quarters to dilute the July 20 notification for the benefit of the Gutkha manufacturers. But we will not succumb to pressure and we are sure, our notification will stand scrutiny of law,'' the FDA official said.
Region..................premises raided............cost of seized Gutkha
Mumbai..................30...........................Rs 92.39 lakh
Thane.....................17............................Rs 35.43 lakh
Pune........................54...........................Rs 50.85 lakh
Nashik.....................23............................Rs 49.58 lakh
Aurangabad...............72............................Rs 30.7 lakh
Amravati...................29............................Rs 19.69 lakh
Nagpur......................28............................Rs 33.04 lakh
Total........................469............................Rs6.3 crore
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